"Five thousand dollars, madam! A mere trifle for that gem! I'll get ten thousand for you, at least!"
"Ten thousand will do nicely," said Delight, giggling at last at King's pompous air.
Then Marjorie came bringing a large frilly sofa pillow.
"This is my last pillow," she said, in quavering tones. "I shall have to sleep on a brickbat tonight; but I must have bread for my children to eat. There are seven of them, and they haven't had a mouthful for two weeks."
"Oh, that's nothing!" responded Flip, airily. "Children ought not to be fed oftener than every three weeks anyway. I hate over-fed children. It makes them so cross."
"So it does," agreed Kitty. "But my children are never cross, 'cause I feed them on honey. I've brought a bust of Dante to have sold by auction. It's a big one, you see, and ought to bring a good price."
"Yes, it will, madame, I'm sure. Haven't you anything more to leave?"
"Yes, here's an umbrella, and a waste basket, and some books. They're all valuable but I have so much treasures in my house, I don't need these."
"Hurry up," put in Dorothy, "and give me a chance. I've brought these pictures," showing some small ones she had lifted from their nails in the wall, "and also this fine inkstand. Look out and don't spill the ink Also here's a vase of flowers, flowers and all. Look out and don't spill the water."
"You seem to bring spilly things, ma'am," said King, taking the goods carefully. "But we'll sell them."