"My mother says as how she'd like you to come to tea, over at
Richmond," said Chandler awkwardly, "I just come in to see whether
we could fix it up, Miss Daisy." And Daisy looked imploringly at
her stepmother.

"D'you mean now--this minute?" asked Mrs. Bunting tartly.

"No, o' course not"--Bunting broke in hastily. "How you do go on,
Ellen!"

"What day did your mother mention would be convenient to her?"
asked Mrs. Bunting, looking at the young man satirically.

Chandler hesitated. His mother had not mentioned any special day
--in fact, his mother had shown a surprising lack of anxiety to
see Daisy at all. But he had talked her round.

"How about Saturday?" suggested Bunting. "That's Daisy's birthday.
'Twould be a birthday treat for her to go to Richmond, and she's
going back to Old Aunt on Monday."

"I can't go Saturday," said Chandler disconsolately. "I'm on duty
Saturday."

"Well, then, let it be Sunday," said Bunting firmly. And his wife
looked at him surprised; he seldom asserted himself so much in her
presence.

"What do you say, Miss Daisy?" said Chandler.