She clapped her hands softly. “Oh, we do like you, Tom!” she cried. “That was a perfect thing to say, wasn’t it, Sid?”
Sidney grinned. “He’s gone on you, Mumsie.”
“Sidney!”
“He is, though.” He laughed across at Tom. “All the fellows fall in love with my mother, Tom. You can’t help it.”
Tom blushed hotly, and Mrs. Morris said reprovingly: “Sid, you shouldn’t say such awful things, dear. Tom may not understand your fun.”
“I can understand what—what he said,” muttered Tom boldly, and Sidney applauded by rattling the skates he held. Mrs. Morris blushed a little herself then.
“You’re both rather awful,” she said. “And it’s about time for you to be thinking of bed, Sid. Come, Tom, we’ll leave him to consider his sins. I’ll be up again, Sid, in a few minutes.”
Tom said good night to Sidney, repeating his promise to return to-morrow evening, and followed Mrs. Morris downstairs. At the door she held out her hand to him and Tom took it awkwardly.
“Good night, Tom,” she said. “Thanks for coming. Sidney enjoyed your visit very much. And so did I. And don’t forget to come again.”
“No’m, thanks. Good night, Mrs. Morris.”