“I—er—I came in person,” spoke Tom in a low voice, as he saw that the others were perusing the epistles that formally besought the company of the young ladies on the May walk.
“Oh——” began Miss Tyler.
“May I have the honor of escorting you on the outing?” asked Tom, laughing to take out the formality of his request.
Miss Madge Tyler looked at him a moment. Then her gaze seemed to wander toward the retreating form of Miss Benson. Tom waited, wonderingly.
“I thank you,” said Madge, a bit stiffly, “but I—am already engaged,” and she turned aside, while Tom swallowed hard.
Clearly he was but beginning to know the way of a maid.
[CHAPTER XII]
IN BITTER SPIRITS
“Come on, Tom, aren’t you going to tog up?”