Then one morning Kathleen took him aside after breakfast to question his steadfastness.
“Were you in earnest about what you said?” she asked.
“Of course I was,” Michael affirmed.
“He’s come down. He’s staying in rooms. Why don’t you ask me to go out for a bicycle ride?”
“Well, will you?” Michael dutifully invited.
“I’m so excited,” said Kathleen, fluttering off to tell her sister of this engagement to go riding with Michael.
In about half an hour they stood outside the small red-brick house which cabined the bold spirit of Michael’s depressed fancies.
“You’ll come in and say ‘how do you do’?” suggested Kathleen.
“I suppose I’d better,” Michael agreed.
They entered together the little efflorescent parlour of the house.