What are we to do with him?
Am I to ask him to dinner?
I take it for granted that he will not expect me to offer him a bed, as he knows that I live in lodgings." "Oh no, aunt; he certainly will not expect that." "But ought I to ask him to dinner?
I should be most happy to entertain him, though you know how very scanty my means of doing so are;--but I really do not know how it might be,--between you and him, I mean." "We should not fight, aunt." "No, I suppose not;--but if you cannot be affectionate in your manner to him--" "I will not answer for my manners, aunt; but you may be sure of this,--that I should be affectionate in my heart.

I shall always regard him as a dearly loved friend; though for many years, no doubt, I shall be unable to express my friendship." "That may be all very well, Alice, but it will not be what he will want.

I think upon the whole that I had better not ask him to dinner." "Perhaps not, aunt." "It is a period of the day in which any special constraint among people is more disagreeable than at any other time, and then at dinner the servants must see it.

I think there might be some awkwardness if he were to dine here." "I really think there would," said Alice, anxious to have the subject dropped.
"I hope he won't think that I am inhospitable.

I should be so happy to do the best I could for him, for I regard him, Alice, quite as though he were to be your husband.