I'm going to make them let me dine with them to-night.

Coming back, Billie ?" "Why, no, I don't expect to." He moved then accidentally in front of the light that sifted through the dull, gray panes of a little window.
"Oh, cracky!" cried the girl; "how fine you are, Billie! Going to a coronation ?" "No," said Hawker, looking seriously over his collar and down at his clothes.

"Fact is--er--well, I've got to make a call." "A call--bless us! And are you really going to wear those gray gloves you're holding there, Billie?
Say, wait until you get around the corner.
They won't stand 'em on this street." "Oh, well," said Hawker, depreciating the gloves--"oh, well." The girl looked up at him.

"Who you going to call on ?" "Oh," said Hawker, "a friend." "Must be somebody most extraordinary, you look so dreadfully correct.
Come back, Billie, won't you?
Come back and dine with us." "Why, I--I don't believe I can." "Oh, come on! It's fun when we all dine together.

Won't you, Billie ?" "Well, I----" "Oh, don't be so stupid!" The girl stamped her foot and flashed her eyes at him angrily.
"Well, I'll see--I will if I can--I can't tell----" He left her rather precipitately.
Hawker eventually appeared at a certain austere house where he rang the bell with quite nervous fingers.
But she was not at home.