But I've got another engagement
for that evening. I'm going to the university extension lecture with--I'm
going to the university extension lecture; it's my regular night." She
ended with a heavy downward inflection which she hoped was pronounced
enough to conceal the tell-tale dislocation that had preceded it.
"Indeed? Where does your lecture carry you?"
"Over on the West side--to that Settlement."
"Um. Bad neighborhood to be going into alone, at night."
"I'm not going alone," returned Jane, with a kind of fluttering
joyfulness.
"Oh! with some girl friends, then? Not much better--that way."
"I'm not going with any girl friends"--this accompanied by a perceptible
palpitation of delight. She looked at Mrs. Bates with eyes that seemed to
say, "Please go on; don't stop right there."
"Oh, then, that kind, good brother, perhaps," suggested Mrs. Bates--going
on.
"No, not that kind, good brother." Jane's face was fairly beaming.
"Some other kind, good young man, then."
"Yes," responded Jane, with a challenging light on her countenance; "some
other kind, good young man."
"Ah! And when does your lecture end?"
"At nine."
"Before the other thing begins. Of course the lecture is much too
instructive to lose, and then there's the fascination of a mile or two in
a dirty street-car; but couldn't you look in on us between ten and
half-past? The box is small, but I have a great fondness for those kind,
good young men.
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