"Not often. It's a hard trip and some one has to stay with the stock."
Dick looked at Charley with quick reproach. "You know it's always something urgent that takes me in, Charley. And you nearly always refuse to go."
"Nearly always, yes, Dick," replied Charley.
Dick shrugged his shoulders and there was a moment's silence which Ernest broke.
"When are you coming to see us, Felicia?"
"Every day, Ernest," replied the child.
"Mr. Ernest," corrected Charley.
"No! No! We're old friends," protested Ernest.
"And Roger's a friend too," added Felicia. "A dearest friend."
Ernest grinned. "Felicia! How can you forsake me so! Here's Roger, a notorious woman-hater, and you wasting your young affections on him, when you might have me with a turn of your finger."