Page:Barbour--Peggy in the rain.djvu/82

 "I wish you'd be generous."

"To her?"

"To me. If you think you oughtn't to tell me her name, will you write to her and ask her permission?"

"Is it as bad as that? " she mocked.

"Well, I'm—very much interested in her, Leona."

"Can't you find some one in your own set to be—interested in?"

Tommy laid a persuasive hand on Gordon's arm. "You're blocking traffic, old chap."

"Hello, Tommy. Good evening, Mrs. Morrill. Won't you try to persuade Leona to be kind to me?"

Mrs. Morrill, stout and good-natured, struggled with her gloves, beaming archly at the petitioner.

"Fancy any one being unkind to you, Mr. Ames! What have you done to him, dear?"

"Merely refused him something that wouldn't be good for him, mamma."

"But why not let me be the judge of that?" asked Gordon.

"You're not a good judge, Gordon."

"Then you won't?" he asked dejectedly.