“Is that you, Oku?”

“Yes—­Sir—­Excuse—­please—­Sir!”

“Oku,” came Stafford’s voice, “I’ve been held downtown at my club.  I’m just starting for home.  If Miss Blaine and her friends come, make them comfortable until I arrive.  Understand?”

“Yes—­Sir—­Excuse—­please—­Sir!”

The speaker rang off and Oku, more nervous and excited than ever now that he was called upon to act as host as well as caterer, danced about the apartment like a man possessed.  Seven o’clock struck and the echoes of the last stroke had barely died away when there came a discreet ring at the front door bell.  Quickly Oku pulled himself together and summoning up his most dignified manner, threw the door wide open.  On the threshold stood Mr. James Gillie, accompanied by Virginia and Fanny.

“Is this Mr. Stafford’s apartment?” inquired Jimmie in his grandest manner.

“Yes, sir,” said Oku with a deep salaam.  “Excuse, please, and come in!  Excuse, please!”

None of the visitors were in evening dress.  The girls wore shirt waists and Jimmie’s chief claims to distinction were a clean shave and freshly-pressed pants.  At the last moment Virginia had wished not to come at all for this reason.  She had no evening frock and could not afford to get one for a single occasion, and Fanny was in the same straits.  There had been a long argument over the matter and not a few tears, until finally Fanny made it impossible for Virginia to hold out any longer by declaring flatly that her whole future—­hers and Jimmies—­was at stake.  So Virginia surrendered with as good grace as she could pretend—­hoping inwardly that Mr. Stafford looked upon it only as an informal affair and would be neither dressed himself nor expect them to be.

Jimmie handed his coat and hat to the butler with as important an air as he was able to assume, and, speaking for the ladies, who until now had stood motionless in the background, said loftily: 

“Tell Mr. Stafford the people he was expecting have come.”

Oku salaamed profoundly, but did not budge.

“Excuse!  But Mr. Stafford—­he is not here,” he said.

Jimmie looked blankly at the girls.  With a grin at Virginia he snickered: 

“I told you being late was the proper thing.”

Virginia turned to the butler.  Anxiously she said: 

“Isn’t there some mistake?”

Oku shook his head, and throwing open the door of the salon, motioned to them to enter.

“Excuse, please, but there is no mistake,” he grinned.  “Mr. Stafford he say to me over telephone he is very sorry, but there is big meeting and he not get away.  He be here in half an hour.”

The girls looked at each other in dismay.  Jimmie made a grimace.

“Half an hour!  Jumping Jupiter!” he exclaimed.

“He say he is very sorry,” went on Oku apologetically, “but will hurry quick as can.  He say for you to wait till he come and he tell me to say many time, ‘Excuse, please!  Excuse!’”