“I’m glad it didn’t work right,” said Delight; “for it’s messy stuff, anyway. I like better to sell paper things—they aren’t sticky.”
Delight had a rooted aversion to any thing sticky or untidy, but Marjorie was not so “fussy particular,” as she phrased it. However, there were plenty of other things to sell, so Miss Merington called an attendant to take away the ice affair, as it was only in the way. Sure enough, as he lifted off the heavy block of ice, in the tub below could be seen all of Ellen’s carefully prepared orangeade.
“It does seem a pity,” said Midget, “but, as you say, Delight, it is sticky, and I’m glad to get it out of the way. Now, I’m going over to see King’s tree.”
Of course, Marjorie and Delight couldn’t both leave their Orange Tree at once, so they took turns in going out on little excursions round the room.
Miss Larkin’s tree was a beautiful, finely-shaped evergreen, and would have made a good Christmas tree. But it had no resemblance to a Christmas tree, for it was hung with green fans, parasols, aprons, motor veils, bags, sofa-pillows, and even some green hats, that a generous milliner had donated. Miss Larkin, herself, looking very fine in her green silk gown, was smiling and beaming at her customers, and incidentally making a great many sales.
King and Kitty were laughing over the joke of Midget’s orangeade, but Miss Larkin regretted that so much money had been lost from the funds.
“Oh, pshaw, Larky,” said King; “it wouldn’t have amounted to very much, anyway.”
“And, perhaps, if we had sold it, we might have broken some of those pretty glass cups of Mother’s,” said Midget, who always found the bright side.
“Well, then I’m glad it leaked away,” said Kitty; “for I was afraid all the time you’d break those, and Mother’s awfully fond of them.”
“I know it,” said Mopsy. “I’m going to tell her I took them, but I’ll never do it again.”