“Sorry.  I don’t go to dances any more.”

“That is nonsense, Phil.  It is the worst thing in the world for you to make a hermit of yourself.  No girl’s worth it.  Besides there are other girls besides Carlotta.”

Phil shook his head as he finished replacing Tony’s trim brown oxfords.

“Unfortunately that isn’t true for me,” he said rising.  “At present my world consists of myself bounded, north, south, east and west by Carlotta.”

And Tony passing out under the sign of STUART LAMBERT AND SON a few minutes later sighed a little.  Here was Carlotta with a real man for the taking and too stubborn and foolish to put out her hand and here was herself, Tony Holiday, tying herself all up in a strange snarl for the sake of somebody who wasn’t a man at all as Holiday Hill standards ran.  What queer creatures women were!

Other people besides Tony were inclined to score Phil’s folly in making a hermit of himself.  His sisters attacked him that very night on the subject of Sue Emerson’s dance and accused him of being a “Grumpy Grandpa” and a grouch and various other uncomplimentary things when he announced that he wasn’t going to attend the function.

“I’m the authentic T.B.M.,” he parried from his perch on the porch railing.  “I’ve cut out dancing.”

“More idiot you!” retorted Charley promptly.  “Mums, do tell Phil it is all nonsense making such an oyster in a shell of himself.”

Mrs. Lambert smiled and looked up at her tall young son, looked rather hard for a moment.

“I think the twins are right, Phil,” she said.  “You are working too hard.  You don’t allow yourself any relaxation.”

“Oh, yes I do.  Only my idea of relaxation doesn’t happen to coincide with the twins.  Dancing in this sort of weather with your collar slumping and the perspiration rolling in tidal waves down your manly brow doesn’t strike me as being a particularly desirable diversion.”

“H-mp!” sniffed Charley.  “You didn’t object to dancing last summer when it was twice as hot.  You went to a dance almost every night when Carlotta was visiting Tony.  You know you did.”

“I wasn’t a member of the esteemed firm of Stuart Lambert and Son last summer.  A lily of the field can afford to dance all night.  I’m a working man I’d have you know.”

“Well, I think you might come just this once to please us,” joined in Clare, the other twin.  “You are a gorgeous dancer, Phil.  I’d rather have a one step with you than any man I know.”  Clare always beguiled where Charley bullied, a method much more successful in the long run as Charley sometimes grudgingly admitted after the fact.

Phil smiled now at pretty Clare and promised to think about it and the twins flew off across the street to visit with Tony and Ruth whom the whole Hill adored.

“Phil dear, aren’t you happy?” asked Mrs. Lambert.  “Have we asked too much of you expecting you to settle down at home with us?”