`` He was so pretty , Papa . And Edie gave him her blue mittens for William John . '' `` The plot deepens . Who is William John ? '' `` Oh , a cousin or something , did n't he say Edie ? Anyway , he is sick , and he wanted to go coasting , and Bertie gave him his mittens . And I suppose he never had any Christmas either . '' `` There are plenty who have n't , '' said the doctor , taking up his paper with a sigh . `` Well , girlies , you seem interested in this little fellow so , if you like , you may invite him and his cousin to take dinner with you on New Year 's night . '' `` Oh , Papa ! '' said Edith , her eyes shining like stars . The doctor laughed . `` Write him a nice little note of invitation -- you are the lady of the house , you know -- and I 'll see that he gets it tomorrow . '' And this was how it came to pass that Bertie received the next day his first invitation to dine out . He read the little note through three times in order fully to take in its contents , and then went around the rest of the day in deep abstraction as though he was trying to decide some very important question . It was with the same expression that he opened the door at home in the evening . His aunt was stirring some oatmeal mush on the stove . `` Is that you , Bert ? '' She spoke sharply . She always spoke sharply , even when not intending it ; it had grown to be a habit .
`` Yes 'm , '' said XXXXX meekly , as he hung up his cap .
Bert Bertie Edie Edith John evening first girlies mush night