Annie blushed.
“I can’t.”
Mrs. Lipsett dropped into the vernacular.
“Eh! I am vexed!”
Francis took his hat and rose with some dignity.
“I am sorry,” he said, “but as neither of you seem disposed to enlighten me . . .”
Annie stood between him and the door. She blurted out:
“It’s Fred, Mr. Folyat. It wasn’t fair of him to leave you alone with mother like that. We saw you going by and he said he’d go and tell you. I suppose he didn’t. He’s like that. He means well.”
“Means well!” This from Mrs. Lipsett.