There came a knock at the door.
"Come!" invited Mr. DeVere, and Russ appeared.
"Excuse this interruption," the young moving picture operator began, "but mother sent over to ask if you wouldn't take dinner with us. We have a big one. We expected my uncle and aunt, and they've disappointed us. Do come!"
Alice and Ruth looked at each other. Then they glanced up at their father, who regarded them thoughtfully.
"Well, I don't know," began the actor, slowly. "I—er——"
"Mother will be disappointed if you don't come," urged Russ. "She has chicken and biscuit for dinner, and she rather prides herself on it. The dinner will be spoiled if it isn't eaten hot—especially the biscuit, so she'll take it as a favor if you'll come over, and take the places of my uncle and aunt. Do come!" and he looked earnestly at Ruth.
"Well, what do you say, girls? Shall we accept of our neighbor's hospitality?" asked Mr. DeVere.
"Please do!" exclaimed Alice, in a tense whisper. "You know we haven't got a decent thing to eat in the ice box, and that delicatessen stuff——"
"Alice!" chided Ruth.
"Well, it's the truth!" insisted the merry girl, her brown eyes dancing with mischief. "Russ knows we aren't millionaires, and with papa out of an engagement so long—oh, chicken! Come on. I haven't tasted any in so long——"