"I'm not always saying it. I may have mentioned it once or twice when the conversation was flagging."
"Well, mention it now, and then I'll mention my jumble sale."
I thought it over for a moment.
"It will mean brown paper and string," I said hopelessly, "and I don't know where to get them."
"I'll buy some after lunch for you. You shall hold my hand while I buy it."
"And then I should have to post it, and I'm rotten at posting things."
"But you needn't post it, because you can meet me at the station with it, and I'll take it home."
"I don't think it's quite etiquette for a young girl to travel alone with a big brown-paper parcel. What would Mrs. Middleton say if she knew?"
"Mother?" cried Miss Middleton. "But, of course, it's her idea. You didn't think it was mine?" she said reproachfully.
"The shock of it unnerved me for a moment. Of course, I see now that it is Mrs. Middleton's jumble sale entirely." I sighed and helped myself to salt. "How do I begin?"