The Card, a Story of Adventure in the Five Towns

at me. She c

never have started; and, not being in command of a fiver, he would afterwards have cut a preposterous figure in the group. But started he was, like a piece of clockwork that could not be stopped! In the grand crise

Mr Duncalf, whom Denry had not previously noticed there. Denry regretted this, for he ha

you?" he demanded bluntly, but

nour." Not a trace of the formula in which Ruth Earp

, Mr Harold Etches,"

n inadvertently opene

efficiently smiling. She did not recognise Denry. In

t matter, I'm su

inclusively polite. She could not have begun with a refusal. A refusal might have dried up all other invitations what

nfusing fashion, which withdrew his attention from his feet. He laid hold of it gingerly between two unemployed fingers. After that he managed fairly well. Once they came peril

on perceived that h

e said, like an aunt, but wi

say: "Do you know, it's the first time I've ever

d. "You pick things u

e said.

mprehend why she had so laughed, save on the supposition that he was more humorous than he had suspected. Anyhow, he laughed too, and they parted laughing. He remembered that he had made a marked effect (though not one of laughter) on the tailor by quickly returning the question, "Are