“I will, if I can.”
“Oh, that won’t do! You come sure, and I will make papa stay home, even if he has got another engagement.”
“He might not care to do that,” suggested Bob.
“Oh, he cares to do whatever I want him to,” returned the young lady.
When Bob left, he felt in particularly high spirits; why, he could not exactly state.
He returned to his boarding-house by way of a short cut through a number of back streets.
It was quite dark when he reached the steps of the boarding-house. As he was about to ascend, latch-key in hand, he noticed a man sitting on the curbstone, his head resting on his hands.
Approaching the man, Bob shook him by the shoulder.
“What’s the matter with you?” he asked.
The man stared at him vacantly.