"Do come," said Miss Billy cordially,—but Beatrice remained silent.
"Now with your usual propensity for doing stupid things, you have drawn us into a fine entanglement," scolded Beatrice, as they reached the sidewalk. "I never heard of anything so arrogant in my life as his asking if he might return the call. And it was not your place to give him permission, either. You quite forget you are my younger sister."
"I think him extremely courteous and high-bred," returned Miss Billy with spirit, "and his asking to call upon us was a delicate and kind thing to do, under the circumstances. But don't let us quarrel about him, Bea. How old do you suppose he is? I think he can't be over twenty-one,—but his grave manners make him appear older."
"I have no suppositions whatever upon such a subject," said Beatrice loftily.
"But at least, you cannot deny he is a gentleman?"
Beatrice raised her pretty eyebrows. "Into that I shall not inquire. It is enough for me that he is a relative of Mr. Schultzsky's."
[CHAPTER XVI]
THE CHILD GARDEN
“As I went up Pippin Hill
Pippin Hill was dirty.”