Susan's heart began to thump.
"No, of course I'm not!"
"Well, then, shall I get tickets for Monday night?"
"Not Monday."
"Look here, Susan! Somebody's been stuffing you, I can see it! Was it Auntie? Come on, now, what's the matter, all of a sudden?"
"There's nothing sudden about it," Susan said, with dignity, "but Auntie does think that I go about with you a good deal---"
Peter was silent. Susan, stealing a glance at his face, saw that it was very red.
"Oh, I love that! I'm crazy about it!" he said, grinning. Then, with sudden masterfulness, "That's all ROT! I'm coming for you on Sunday, and we'll go feed the fishes!"
And he was gone. Susan ate her lunch very thoughtfully, satisfied on the whole with the first application of the new plan.
On Sunday afternoon Mr. Coleman duly presented himself at the boarding-house, but he was accompanied by Miss Fox, to whom Susan, who saw her occasionally at the Saunders', had taken a vague dislike, and by a Mr. Horace Carter, fat, sleepy, and slightly bald at twenty-six.