But Rilla dropped Jims' spoon again--on the carpet this time--and flew to the 'phone as if life depended on her getting there before anybody else.

Jims, his patience exhausted, lifted up his voice and wept.
"Hello, is this Ingleside ?" "Yes." "That you, Rilla ?" "Yeth--yeth." Oh, why couldn't Jims stop howling for just one little minute?
Why didn't somebody come in and choke him?
"Know who's speaking ?" Oh, didn't she know! Wouldn't she know that voice anywhere--at any time?
"It's Ken--isn't it ?" "Sure thing.

I'm here for a look-in.

Can I come up to Ingleside tonight and see you ?" "Of courthe." Had he used "you" in the singular or plural sense?
Presently she would wring Jims' neck--oh, what was Ken saying?
"See here, Rilla, can you arrange that there won't be more than a few dozen people round?
Understand?
I can't make my meaning clearer over this bally rural line.

There are a dozen receivers down." Did she understand! Yes, she understood.
"I'll try," she said.
"I'll be up about eight then.