Meanwhile Aunty explains all about the tea, namin' over some of the swell dowagers that was goin' to act as patronesses, and invites him cordial to drop around on the big day.
"Thanks," says he; "but I guess I'd better not. I'm still from the wrong end of the town, you know. But here's a memorandum of four pieces I should like done in bronze for my country house. And suppose I leave Mr. Djickyns a check for five thousand on account. Will that do?"
Would it? Say, Aunty almost pats him fond on the cheek as she follows him to the door.
Must have been something romantic about that bonfire episode back in Cooperstown too; for she mellows up a lot durin' the next few minutes, and when I fin'lly calls a taxi and tucks 'em all in she comes near beamin' on me.
"Remember, young man," says she, "promptly at five on Wednesday."
"Wha-a-at?" says I.
"And be sure to wear your best frock coat," she adds as a partin' shot.
Do you wonder I stands gaspin' on the curb until after they've turned the corner? Think of that from Aunty!
"Well?" says Mr. Robert, as I blows in about quittin' time. "Any new quotations in sculpture?"
"If you think that's a merry jest," says I, "call up Aunty. Why, say, before we get through with this tea stunt of hers that Djickyns party will be runnin' his studio works day and night shifts and rebuildin' Belgium! We're a great team, me and dear old Aunty. We've just found it out."