I hereby officially present the result of subsequent deliberation. Mr.
Barnes is invited to dine with us to-night."
Barnes's heart was still pounding rapidly as he made the rueful
admission that he "didn't have a thing to wear." He couldn't think of
accepting the gracious invitation--
"Don't you think the clothes you have on your back will last through
the evening?" inquired O'Dowd quaintly.
"But look at them!" cried Barnes. "I've tramped in 'em for two weeks
and--"
"All the more reason why you should be thankful they're good and
stout," said O'Dowd.
"We live rather simply up here, Mr. Barnes," said De Soto. "There
isn't a dinner jacket or a spike tail coat on the place. It's strictly
against the law up here to have such things about one's person. Come
as you are, sir. I assure you I speak the truth when I say we don't
dress for dinner."
"Bedad," said O'Dowd enthusiastically, "if it will make ye feel any
more comfortable I'll put on the corduroy outfit I go trout fishing
in, bespattered and patched as it is. And De Soto will appear in the
white duck trousers and blazer he tries to play tennis in,--though,
God bless him, poor wretch, he hates to put them on after all he's
heard said about his game.
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