“Thanks—I hope so,” I said in a little confusion. I wished I knew whether she meant Luella or Mrs. Bowser.
“You got the note?” she asked.
“It was a great pleasure.”
“Mrs. Bowser wished so much to see you again. She has been singing your praises—you were such an agreeable young man.”
I cursed Mrs. Bowser in my heart.
“I am most flattered,” I said politely.
There was a mischievous sparkle in Mrs. Knapp's eye, but her face was serenely gracious.
“I believe there was some arrangement between you about a trip to see the sights of Chinatown. Mrs. Bowser was quite worried for fear you had forgotten it, so I gave her your address and told her to write you a note.”
I had not been conscious of expecting anything from my visit, but at this bit of information I found that I had been building air-castles which had been invisible till they came tumbling about my ears. I could not look for Miss Knapp's company on such an expedition.
“Oh,” said I, with an attempt to conceal my disappointment, “the matter had slipped my mind. I shall be most happy to attend Mrs. Bowser, or to see that she has a proper escort.”