"Yes, Tom will be very glad to take you," went on the unfortunate Sid.
"Thank you," spoke Miss Harrison coldly. "I don't believe I care to go to the theatricals after all. Come on, girls, or we will be late for tea," and without another look at Sid she turned aside and walked on.
"Oh, but I say, you know!" burst out the second baseman. "I thought--that is--you see--I can't possibly take you, as it is, and I thought----"
"It isn't necessary for anyone to take me!" retorted Miss Harrison coldly. "It's not at all important, I assure you. Good afternoon, Mr. Henderson," and she swept away, leaving poor Sid staring after her with bewilderment in his eyes. It was his first attempt at an affair with a maiden, and it had ended most disastrously. He turned back to rejoin his chums.
"Well?" questioned Tom, as Sid came up. "Is it all right? Am I to have the pleasure of two young ladies to-night?"
"No, it's all wrong!" blurted out Sid. "I can't understand girls!"
"That's rich!" cried Phil. "Here you have been despising them all your life, and now, when you do make up to one, and something happens, you say you can't understand them. No man can, old chap. Look at Tom and me, here, and we've had our share of affairs, haven't we, old sport."
"Speak for yourself," replied the pitcher. "But what's the row, Sid?"
"Hanged if I know. I told her I couldn't possibly go to-night----"
"Did you tell her why?" interrupted Phil.
"Well, I said I had received word that I had to go away, and--er--well I can't explain that part of it even to you fellows. I've got to go away for a short time, that's all. It's fearfully important, of course, or I wouldn't break a date with a girl. I can't explain, except that I have to go. I tried to tell her that; and then I said I'd arranged with you to take her, Tom."
"I told her I was going to have you take her."
"Without asking her whether it would be agreeable to her?"
"Of course. I didn't suppose that was necessary, as you and Miss Clinton and Miss Tyler were all going together. I just told her you'd take her."
"Well, of all the chumps!" burst out Phil.
"Why--what's wrong?" asked Sid wonderingly.
"Everything," explained Phil. "You ask a pretty girl--and by the way, Sid, I congratulate you on your choice, for she is decidedly fine looking--but, as I say, you ask a pretty girl to go to some doings, and when you find you can't go, which is all right, of course, for that often happens, why then, I say, you coolly tell her you have arranged for her escort. You don't give her a chance to have a word to say in the matter. Why, man alive, it's just as if you were her guardian, or grandfather, or something like that. A girl likes to have a voice in these matters, you know. My, my, Sid! but you have put your foot in it. You should have gently, very gently, suggested that Tom here would be glad to take her. Instead, you act as though she had to accept your choice. Oh, you doggoned old misogynist, I'm afraid you're hopeless!"