“Won’t you sit down?” Milly invited politely.
Tuckerman took a chair, and the three boys, impressed in spite of themselves by Milly’s society manner, perched on the rail of the porch.
“We were wondering,” said Tuckerman, “whether we could induce you to come out to supper on the island. We hoped the simplicity of the meal would be atoned for by the beauty of the scenery. I can promise you a fine sunset.”
“Thank you for the invitation.” Milly swung gently back and forth. “Let me see—what did I have on hand for this evening?”
“Oh, chuck it, Milly!” said Tom. “Of course you want to come along.”
“I remember now,” said Milly suavely. “I have a date with my friend Sarah Hooper. There’s a new movie in town.”
“Well, of course,” said Tuckerman in a regretful tone, “we can’t compete with a new moving-picture show.”
Milly smiled. “The boys are still giving you plenty of good food, are they? And keeping you amused?”
David moved impatiently on his perch. “The Professor never got better food anywhere. He says so himself.”
“I thought perhaps the menu might get a little tiresome,” Milly suggested sweetly. “Boys are so apt to stick to one or two of the same things when they have to cook for themselves.”