"See anythin' green in my eyes?" drawled Benny. "I'll bet you ain't goin' over, then," he added cynically.
"Of course I wouldn't butt in on the young ladies' day together," returned John. Benny's recital had touched him, but he could not forbear a smile at the youngster's courage of conviction. "I tell you, I'm the aggrieved party in this matter," he added.
"Oh, git out," returned the boy. "Butt in, nawthin'. You go over there and fix it up with her. Say," hopefully, "I'll sail ye over to-night if ye want to. Plenty o' moon."
"You're awfully good, Benny, but you can take it from me, I shouldn't be welcome."
The boy looked staggered for the first time.
"Has she turned you down?" he asked in a low tone. "That's so, she'd a cried jest the same if she had. Say, has she?"
Dunham made a significant gesture.
"Next time don't you be so sure you know it all, Benny," he replied.
CHAPTER XXXI