And you can make any excuse for me you like," he added with a smile as he left the room.

Aunt Charlotte remained transfixed.
"I suppose he must go his own gait," she muttered, as she picked up her knitting again.

"There's no use in trying to force him this way or that; if he doesn't want to do a thing he won't do it.

Of course what he says is true enough--I did let him choose the date, and I did ask these people because I thought it would be good for him, and I did insist on doing so when he begged me not to.

Well, I'm hoist with my own petard this time, though I wouldn't confess as much to him if my life depended on it.