They had no mind to ruin the enjoyment in store for them by offending their guest, so they soon resumed a fitting gravity and began to assist the youth to forget their rudeness.
"May I ask," said Patsy, very graciously, "which one of us you intend to favor with your attentions ?" "I ain't much used to sech things," he replied, looking down at his big hands and growing a little red-faced.

"P'raps I hadn't orter tell, before the rest o' ye." "Oh, yes; do tell!" pleaded Louise.

"We're so anxious to know." "I don't s'pose it's right clever to pick an' choose when ye're all by," said Skim, regaining confidence.

"But ma, she 'lowed thet with three gals handy I orter git one on 'em, to say the least." "If you got more than one," remarked Beth, calmly, "it would be illegal." "Oh, one's enough," said Skim, with a grin.

"Peggy says it's too many, an' a feller oughtn't to take his gal out'n a grab-bag." "I should think not, indeed," returned Patsy.