“Maybe his corns hurt,” said Wilfred. This was the line to take with Bella.
“Oh, Mr. Pell, you’re so cynical! . . . Who else will you bring?”
“Just Stanny and Jasper; the others will be out of town.”
“I must ask the two boys from the top floor.”
“Oh, them!” said Wilfred. “How about the girls?”
“Well, there’s Hattie Putzel,” said Bella. “Her brother’s on’y a bootblack, but you would never know it from her. A real stylish girl. And there are the two Scotch lassies I met in the restaurant where I eat sometimes. Regular little ladies, they are. Name of McElderry.”
“That’s four, counting yourself,” said Wilfred, “against five fellows. Must have another girl.”
“Well, let me see . . .” said Bella.
He waited breathlessly.
“There’s that Maud Morrison who used to be my forelady in the shop . . .”