Fulkerson felt so sure of pleasing him with Dryfoos's message that he delivered it in full family council at the widow's.

His daughter received it with all the enthusiasm that Fulkerson had hoped for, but the colonel said, stiffly, "I have not the pleasure of knowing Mr.Dryfoos." Miss Woodburn appeared ready to fall upon him at this, but controlled herself, as if aware that filial authority had its limits, and pressed her lips together without saying anything.
"Yes, I know," Fulkerson admitted.

"But it isn't a usual case.

Mr.
Dryfoos don't go in much for the conventionalities; I reckon he don't know much about 'em, come to boil it down; and he hoped"-- here Fulkerson felt the necessity of inventing a little--"that you would excuse any want of ceremony; it's to be such an informal affair, anyway; we're all going in business dress, and there ain't going to be any ladies.

He'd have come himself to ask you, but he's a kind of a bashful old fellow.
It's all right, Colonel Woodburn." "I take it that it is, sir," said the colonel, courteously, but with unabated state, "coming from you.