She was enjoying his embarrassment, but came to his assistance with:
"Well, where _shall_ we go? It's up to you. You did the invitin'."
"I've got nearly two hours," he explained. "Can you stay out that long?"
"I'm off for the rest o' the night," she assured him; "but I ought to be
back under the quilt by ten. I'm a bit tired."
"Of course, you are," he agreed hurriedly--this was another
opportunity--"so we mustn't do any walking. Do you--would you like to
come--"
"Yes."
"How would you like to come over to my place?"
It was out. What would she say?
"Will anybody else be there?"
"Oh no!"
"It's over there on Fourteenth Street somewhere, ain't it?"
"Yes."
"I don't mind," she said.
Joy and excitement overwhelmed him. He could not speak. And he had
imagined all along that it would be so difficult to induce her to come.
He did not know what to say.
"Do we cross here?" she suggested.
"Yes," he said in a low tone.
The need of politeness forced itself upon him. Timidly, he took her arm
and led her across the street. As a matter of fact, it was she, who was
so much stronger and more daring than he, who had done the leading. They
reached the opposite side, and walked along in silence. After a minute
or so, they approached an old building.
"Here it is," he declared nervously and let go her arm.
They climbed three smelly flights of stairs, followed a dark hallway and
came to a halt. He took out his keys and opened a door. "Step in," he
requested.
"You've got the light lit," she announced.
"Yes, I thought it'd be--"
"It's awful nice here."
"Do you think so?" he questioned eagerly, greatly encouraged. "But it's
such a small, dingy place."
"Oh no," she maintained. "It's nice an' cosy."
Erna walked about, examining articles with her inquisitive eyes. "So
this is your piano?"
"Yes, it's an old box."
"No, it's nice lookin'. An' whose picture is that?"
"My mother's."
"An' that one?"
"Oh that--that's only--"
"An old _friend_?" she assisted him.
"Yes," he agreed, and his blushes appeared.
Fortunately, Erna's back was turned. But she knew he was blushing, and
her face lighted with pleasure. She examined other articles.