"Oh, almost any time."
"Any time is no time."
"I haven't my engagement-book here. I can't remember."
He was hoping that she would ask him to call, but she failed to take the hook. He surprised himself by saying with an abrupt rashness:
"Will you take lunch with me to-morrow?"
He had a vision of a charming little hour alone with her in the solitude made by a crowd. She missed the point, and asked:
"Do you mean all of us?"
"I suppose I do. I reckon I wouldn't dare ask you alone."
"I reckon you betta hadn't," she said, mocking his accent as best she could.