Mrs. Chapley laughed more easily. “I didn’t know but he made shoes that nobody could wear. I couldn’t imagine what other attraction he could have for my husband. I believe he would really like to go into the country and work in the fields.” Mrs. Chapley laughed away a latent anxiety, apparently, in making this joke about her husband, and seemed to feel much better acquainted with Ray. “How are they living over there? What sort of family has Mr. Hughes? I mean, besides the daughter we know of?”
Ray told, as well as he could, and he said they were living in an apartment.
“Oh!” said Mrs. Chapley, “I fancied a sort of tenement.”
“By-the-way,” said Mr. Brandreth, “wouldn’t you like to see our apartment, Mr. Ray”—his wife quelled him with a glance, and he added,—“some time?”
Ray said he should, very much.
Mrs. Brandreth, like her mother, had been growing more and more clement, and now she said, “Won’t you stay and take a family dinner with us, Mr. Ray?”
Ray looked at her husband, and saw that he had not told her of the invitation he had already given. He did not do so now, and Ray rose and seized his opportunity. He thanked Mrs. Brandreth very earnestly, and said he was so sorry he had an appointment to keep, and he got himself away at once.
Mrs. Chapley hospitably claimed him for her Thursdays, at parting; and Mrs. Brandreth said he must let Mr. Brandreth bring him some other day; they would always be glad to see him.
Mr. Brandreth went down to the outer door with him, to make sure that he found the way, and said, “Then you will come some time?” and gratefully wrung his hand. “I saw how anxious you were about those opinions!”