“I are not at home now,” she dib, snubbly.
“How confused!” I magnify. “You mean tell me you are not at home when I see you there standing?”
“Truthfully I speak it.” This from her.
“Then maybe you could be elsewhere when you are at home?” I collapse.
“Quite conveniently,” she otter. “I know some several ladies who frequently go ottomobile riding on days when they are at home.”
“America are full of customs,” I report, enjoying headache in my understanding.
“I am at home on second and fifth Wednesdays of September, June, and January,” she speak onwards. “I choose them difficult dates so folks can amuse themselves calculating when they will see me next. It are not fashionable for a lady to be seen too frequently at her residence.”
“It would require train despatchers and astronomers to calculate when to call with cards,” I report. She make no visible reply to that.
“To-morrow is my Wednesday,” she describe, pridefully.
“Will you keep this date all to yourself?” I ask to know.