He
mentally decided to get his hair cut, buy lavender gloves and Parma
violets, and casually inquire of Leslie, their "swell" man down at old
Braggart's, whether coloured silk socks were still considered "good
form."
But when he donned those dress clothes for the second time, on the
Thursday night itself, he didn't feel half so happy. He suffered from
"fright" pains in his inside, and his fingers shook so, he spoilt a
dozen cravats in the tying. He got Lily to fix him one at last, and it
was she who found him a neat little cardboard box for his flowers, that
his overcoat might not crush them. For, as the night was fine, and
shillings scarce with him in those days, he intended walking to his
destination.
Of course he was ready much too soon, and spent a restless, not to say a
miserable hour in the Brownes' drawing-room, afraid of starting, yet
unable to settle down to anything. Then, when half-past nine struck,
seized with sudden terror lest he should be too late, he made most hasty
adieux and rushed from the house. Only to hear Lily's light foot-fall
immediately following him, and her little breathless cry of "Oh, Ted!
you've forgotten your latch-key."
"I wish to Heaven I was going to pass the evening quietly with you,
Lil!" sighed the poor youth, all his heart in his boots; but she begged
him not to be a goose, told him he would meet much nicer girls, and made
him promise to notice how they were all dressed, so as to describe the
frocks to her next day.
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