New Britain herald., 1923-12-15
Dr. Braithwaite Accepted the In-
 yitation for the Evening

NthtiOn IOr Inc ESenms
 Harriet Braithwaite's face mirrored reluctance, doubt and hesitant ac- ceptance of Dicky's proposal, in rapid succession.
 T don't mind" she said, stressing the pronoun. If Edwin wishes, I'm as ready to dine and dance as to do anything else. But he never has cared for that sort of thing. We've done it. of course. occasionally, but always under protest"
 Time he began, then" Dicky re- torted. Do him good to Timber up his foot muscles. But remember nix on the careful diet thing. We're going to eat the things we like with out referring to the calory list or the , prices opposite"
 Take the food and let dyspepsia go," l murmured maIiciously.
 ''Madge. I'll brain you if you hand out anything like that again." Dicly threatened. Aren't Omar and Fitz- Gerald respectfully dead enough that you want them to roll over in their graves, writhing their poor old bones over the like of that"
 m be good" l promised meekly, as Harriet stared at us. l do not be- licve that my stately sister-in-law ever exchanged an undignified gibe with her husband in all their life to- gethcr, and I felt suddenly childish and absurd.
 Harriet rose abruptly. with glance at my mantel clock.
 Its almost time for Edwin to awaken" she said bit stffly. I'll find out what he wants to do.''
 No you don't" Dicky interrupted with the rudcncss which is only privileged to brothers and husbands. You'd only spill tAe beans if you wont up and asked him. That's job for the masculine diplomat like mo. Give mo your keys and stay here with Madge while l do fancy job of wakcuing as leping lion. promise to handle him tcnderly, liar rict, even if he's snoring. Come, woman. the keys :"
 He struck a melodramatic attitude with outstretched hand. His sister htsitated for few seconds, then laid her keys in his hand and turned away from him with a delicately in- solent air of resigned weariness That Dicky caught it l realized from the profound, mocking bow he swept her, and then the door closed behind him and we heard him whistling np thes tairs to the next floor.
 ''l used to wonder if he'd ever grow up," his sister commented cyn- icslly. as the door above us closed. Now I know that he never will. l do hope that"
 silently Waiting
 She closed her lips firmly upon the rest O. her sentence, and I guessed that sho had meant to denrecate Dicky's probably oeer-urging Of Dr, Braithwaitc 10 the proposed cXpedi- ton. Ii was patent that, having once made up her mind to leave her hus- band to his own devices for awhile, she suddenly had decided to begin the process at once, and l silently appauded the resolution with which she put down her obvious inclination to rescue her husband from Dicky's importunities.
 l knew better than to talk 10 her, and we sat silently looking at the fire until Dicky's return.
 "In the phrase immortaIized by our fair neighbor next door" Diclly began winkinr at me. "'your hubs delighted. SO away with yon and get into your togs, while Madge and her hub array themselves He led her 10 the door and bowed low as she passed through it, then :. pame back to me with a mischievons zmilo on his face. "You should have seen old Ed | when l told him Of the evenings | programme" hc said, with as cas- ual and good-humored an air as through the shadow Of quari-, ri l not lie between us. "1ie didn't know whether to be mortified or delighted, 1 and his first question was an anx- fons onr as to Harriet's wishes in l the matter. ! gather she hasn't told l him yet about going to the farm"
 "No. sine hasn't" l answered as he , stopped and looked an inquiry at i me.
 "1t's going to be the best thing { that ever happened to both Of them" Bicky said thoughtfully. They're al- ! together too dependent upon each 1 other. Nothing like little absent .