"No, thank you," said Jerry, "I'm not going to stay."
"Aren't ye?" she asked disappointedly.
"Is your aunt in?"
"Yes, she's in. Is it HER ye've come to see?"
"Yes," replied Jerry.
At that moment Ethel joined them.
"I came over to ask Mrs. Chichester's permission for you two young ladies to go to a dance to-night. It's just across from here at the assembly rooms."
Peg beamed joyfully. It was just what she wanted to do. Ethel viewed the suggestion differently: "It's very kind of you," she said; "but it's quite impossible."
"Oh!" ejaculated Peg.
"Impossible?" exclaimed Jerry.