"Well! of all the cantankerous,—here! come in, you! She wants to see you," and a man appeared in the doorway—he was shabbily dressed, but it was noticeable that the threadbare clothes were clean. Mrs. Tree looked at him and then looked again.
"What do you want here?"
"I ask for food, I'm hungry."
"Are you a tramp?"
"Yes, Madam!"
"Anything else?"
Just here Direxia burst in with "That'll be enough—you come out in the kitchen and I'll give you something to eat in a paper bag and you can take it away with you."
"I shall be pleased to have you take supper with me, sir! Direxia, set a place for this gentleman."
"I—cannot, Madam!—I thank you, but you must excuse me."
"Why can't you?"