The Best American Humorous Short Stories by Unknown
page 79 of 393 (20%)
page 79 of 393 (20%)
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most happy to make you acquainted."
Edward and Caroline exchanged glances, and could not refrain from looking wistfully at their mother, on whose countenance a shade of regret was very apparent. After a short pause she replied to Mrs. St. Leonard--"I am truly sorry to say that we have just answered in the affirmative a previous invitation for this very evening." "I am indeed disappointed"--said Mrs. St. Leonard, who had been looking approvingly at the prepossessing appearance of the two young people. "Is there no way in which you can revoke your compliance with this unfortunate first invitation--at least, I am sure, it is unfortunate for me. What a vexatious _contretemps_ that I should have chanced to be out when you called; thus missing the pleasure of seeing you at once, and securing that of your society for this evening? The truth is, I was disappointed in some of the preparations that had been sent home this morning, and I had to go myself and have the things rectified, and was detained away longer than I expected. May I ask to whom you are engaged this evening? Perhaps I know the lady--if so, I should be very much tempted to go and beg you from her." "The lady is Mrs. John Watkinson"--replied Mrs. Morland--"most probably she will invite some of her friends to meet us." "That of course"--answered Mrs. St. Leonard--"I am really very sorry--and I regret to say that I do not know her at all." "We shall have to abide by our first decision," said Mrs. Morland. "By Mrs. Watkinson, mentioning in her note the hour of nine, it is to be presumed she intends asking some other company. I cannot possibly |
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