"And Maggie means to write stories too, father, like Gladys. Won't that be awfully nice?"
"My dears, I really don't—er—quite understand."
"Of course you don't, father, when Nona and Elfie tell you in such a ridiculous way."
"Oh, you don't understand, of course, father, because nobody has known a single word about it till to-day."
"Except Mrs. Hepburn and all of them."
"Anybody out of their house, I mean. At least Nellie might, but Maggie didn't."
"I knew Gladys wrote stories, Nona."
"Yes; but not about her trying to get them printed."
"Father, did you see that poor lady, and give her a lot of money?"
"And Thyrza not here, my dears-er! I don't understand Thyrza's absence."