When they got up to go, I begged Mr. Penny to come again.
His response was very flattering.
"Indeed I will," he began. But Dr. Denton interrupted him.
"I thought you had a pressing engagement in town," he said, significantly.
Mr. Penny made a really magnificent gesture of carelessness. "I have forgotten it!" he said.
"I'm reminding you," said his "old college chum" nastily.
I put down my hand to Wiggles, who kissed it obligingly.
"Were you ever in a manger, Wiggles darling?" I asked with interest.
Wiggles barked. And Mr. Penny, who had just discovered that Dr. Denton had been lying on his hat, turned to me with an expression of bewilderment.
"I beg your pardon," he said, with his ruined headgear in his hand.