"I did ask him, but he could not come. He is engaged to preside at a dinner given to the Yale Football Team."
"Does Mr. Depew kick football?" asked the young woman from Macy's.
"I think not," I ventured to say. "Gentlemen over forty seldom indulge in athletics."
"I am so sorry you can't get Mr. Depew," said Mrs. Wyman. "I should so like to hear him."
"You will hear me," said Prof. Poppendorf, with dignity, "if you will kindly buy a ticket."
Mrs. Wyman looked embarrassed. She had a fair income, but carried economy to a fine point.
"Perhaps," she said, with a hesitating glance at the person of whom she spoke, "Miss Blagden will give me one of her tickets, as she does not intend to use either."
"That wouldn't help the Professor," said Miss Blagden, quietly. "You had better buy one of him."
The Professor evidently approved this suggestion.
Mrs. Wyman reluctantly drew from her pocket forty-five cents in change, and tendered it to the Professor.