well, I'm afraid I can't tell you." "You can't tell me! What on earth-- Mrs.Armstrong, will you tell me ?" She looked at him appealingly, pitifully, but she shook her head.
"I--I can't," she said.
He looked from one to the other.

Then, with a shrug, he turned to the door.
"Pardon me for interrupting," he observed.

"Good afternoon." It was Ruth who detained him.

"Oh, please!" she cried, involuntarily.
He turned again.
"You wish me to stay ?" he asked.
"Oh--oh, I don't know.

I--" She had not finished the sentence; she was falteringly trying to finish it when Mr.Babbitt took the center of the stage.