"Ah, Missy! you were up late last night, and so you're late this morning. Now I've got a little piece of news for you. What do you think of an invitation to dinner? a morning call, literally in the dewy morning. Why, I've had the Vicar here already, on his way to the school. How much the desire of giving our hostess a teetotal lecture for the benefit of the hay-makers, had to do with his earliness, I don't know; but here he was, when I came down just before nine; and we are asked to dine there to-day."
"But Edith expects me back--I cannot go," said Margaret, thankful to have so good an excuse.

'Ah, Missy! I've got a little piece of news for you. What do you think of an invitation to dinner? I've had the Vicar here already, in the dewy morning, on his way to the school, and we are asked to dine there today.'
'But Edith expects me back - I cannot go,' said Margaret, thankful to have so good an excuse.
