"Mayn't your mother wear her pearls?" asked Mr. Prohack.
"I hope you noticed, Arthur," said Eve with triumphant satisfaction, "how your Miss Fancy was careful to keep off the subject of jewels."
"Mother's pearls," said Sissie primly, "are mother's affair."
Mr. Prohack did not feel at all happy.
"And yet," he asked himself. "What have I done? I am perfectly innocent."
IV
"I never in all my life," said Sissie, "saw you eat so much, dad. And I think it's a great compliment to my cooking. In fact I'm bursting with modest pride."
"Well," replied Mr. Prohack, who had undoubtedly eaten rather too much, "take it how you like. I do believe I could do with a bit more of this stuff that imitates an omelette but obviously isn't one."
"Oh! But there isn't any more!" said Sissie, somewhat dashed.
"No more! Good heavens! Then have you got some cheese, or anything of that sort?"