“My dress suit,” said Chap, blandly; “or, at least, it mostly holds the suit I dress in at night. I’ve come to stay with you for a while, Susan,” he added, with as sweet a smile as he could call up.
“Stay awhile!” she exclaimed.
“Yes,” said Chap. “Poor Phil is so lonely! My folks were glad enough to let me come.”
“I should think so,” cried Susan, getting very dark in the face; “and do they suppose I’m going to cook and slave for two boys?”
“Oh, you needn’t slave at all, Susan!” said Chap, almost tenderly. “All you have to do is to cook a little more than twice as much as you do for Phil, and I’m content.”
“Did he ask you to come? That Philip?” said Susan.
“Oh, yes, indeed!” said Chap. “You don’t suppose that I’d go about visiting houses, for a week at a time, without being asked? And now, which is to be my room? I can carry my baggage up there myself.”
“You can sleep where you choose,” said Susan, “in the cellar, the parlor, or the top of the house. This goes ahead of anything yet!”
And off she marched.
Phil was not in the house when Chap arrived; but when he came in, and his visitor told him of his interview with the housekeeper, he laughed heartily.