The weight of responsibility was so great, that no one spoke for a moment, and then Fairy, in a burst of confidence began:
"You see, mister, we've never bought anything before; we've just eaten other people's things; but now we've got a home of our own, a really truly home, and these things are to eat in it. So of course you see we have to be very careful what we buy. We're trying very hard to be sensible housekeepers, 'cause my sister says we must, and she knows everything in the world. And so if you could 'vise us a little, we'd know better 'bout selectioning."
After this speech, a few questions from the grocer resulted in a frank and straightforward statement of the case by Dorothy, and then a judicious selection was made of immediate necessities for the commissary department of The Dorrance Domain.
CHAPTER V
THE MAMIE MEAD
As the man of the family and courier of the expedition, Leicester had assumed an air of importance, and looked after the baggage checks, tickets and time-tables with an effect of official guardianship.
"Why, it's a steamboat!" exclaimed Fairy, as a diminutive steamer came puffing up to the dock. "I thought it would be a canal-boat."
"People don't travel to a Domain in a canal-boat, my child," said Leicester, instructively.
"But you said we'd go on the canal," insisted Fairy; "and I want to see what a canal is like. There is one in my geography——"