Part 45 (1/2)
Ellen looked at her mother defiantly. ”I don't see why. This week's as good as any other for me.”
”Well, then, don't you think that perhaps he'd better make you a little call down at the shop? With so many children and things the house is a wee bit untidy.”
”It's his own idea to come up here.” Ellen paused, a trifle embarra.s.sed.
”He says he wants to meet the family.”
”H'm!” murmured Terry. ”He's not like your old friend, Mr. Hawes, is he, Ellen?”
Ellen flushed. ”No, Terry, he's not a bit like Mr. Hawes.”
Small Jack piped up unexpectedly. ”Is he like Jarge, Ellen?”
”No, he's not like George, either.”
”Can he fight?”
Ellen tossed her head. ”I should hope not! Harry Long is a gentleman!”
Seeing that this was not a very strong recommendation to her brothers, she added: ”But, unless I'm very much mistaken, he's plenty able to take care of himself. He's a fine swimmer, too.”
”Is he a sport, Ellen?” Terry asked.
”He's certainly an elegant dresser, if that's what you mean. Just you wait and see.”
Friday's letter put Ellen into something of a flurry.
”Ma, Harry thinks it would be awful nice if you would invite him to supper tomorrow night. He's coming to the shop in the morning. Then he'll take me out to lunch and we'll go somewheres in the afternoon, and he wants to know if we can't come back here for supper. He thinks that would be a good way for him to meet the whole family.”
”Mercy on us!” Mrs. O'Brien wailed. ”With all I've got to do, how can I get up a fine supper for a sporty young gent like Mr. Harry? Can't you keep him out, Ellen? I don't see why he's got to meet the family. We're just like any other family: a father, a mother, and five children.”
”But, Ma, he makes such a point of it. I don't see how we can refuse.
Besides, you know he's been pretty nice to me taking me out to dinner and things.”
”If he was only Jarge Riley now,” Mrs. O'Brien mused, ”I wouldn't mind him at all, at all, for he wouldn't be a bit of trouble. Poor Jarge was always just like one of the family, wasn't he?”
Ellen drew her mother back to the subject of the moment. ”So can I tell him to come?”
Mrs. O'Brien sighed. ”Oh, I suppose so. That is, if Rosie'll help me. I tell you frankly, Ellen, I simply can't manage it alone.”
Mrs. O'Brien called Rosie to get the promise of her a.s.sistance. Rosie listened quietly, then, instead of answering her mother, she turned to her sister.
”Ellen, I want to know one thing: Have you told this Harry about Jarge Riley?”
Ellen frowned. ”I don't see what that's got to do with tomorrow's supper.”
Rosie took a deep breath. ”It's got a lot to do with it if I'm going to help.”
For a moment the sisters measured each other in silence. Then Ellen broke out petulantly:
”Well, then, Miss Busybody, if you've got to know, I haven't! And, what's more, I'm not going to!”