"I ask," Susan hastened to explain, "because dogs often tear up the grounds."
"Well, no, I don't keep dogs," Mr. Falconer answered.
"Have you boys?"
Mr. Falconer smiled quietly, and replied, "No, I haven't any boys."
"Three or four rough boys will ruin a house in a few months," Susan said in her justification. "Have you any children?—a large family?"
"What do people do who have large families and who must rent houses?" Mr. Falconer asked.
"Why, go to people more anxious to rent than I am."
"No," said Mr. Falconer, returning to the question: "I am unfortunately a bachelor."
"Do you propose keeping bachelor's hall?" Susan asked in quick concern. "Excuse me, but I could not think of renting the house to a bachelor or bachelors. It is a rare man who is a house-keeper. Things would soon be at sixes and sevens with a set of men in the house."
"I do not wish to rent the house for myself, but for a friend."