"Awf'ly," she declared; "'specially Petunia.

You will stay, won't you, Mr.Winslow--please ?" Poor Jed! His agitation was great, his embarrassment greater and his excuses for not accepting the invitation numerous if not convincing.

But at last he yielded and sat reluctantly down to the first meal he had eaten in that house for five years.
Mrs.Armstrong, realizing his embarrassment, did not urge him to talk and Barbara, although she chattered continuously, did not seem to expect answers to her questions.

So Jed ate a little, spoke a little, and thought a great deal.

And by the time dinner was over some of his shyness and awkwardness had worn away.