Although the others were eagerly examining the old mummy relic, Dolly stood looking at it thoughtfully.
"May I take it?" she said, after the others had scrutinised it.
Dolly handled it carefully, as she minutely observed it on every side.
It was about six inches long and was a perfect little model of an
Egyptian mummy. She gazed at the date deeply graven on the back, and
then with a slight smile she handed it back to Mr. Forbes, saying,
"Very good, Eddie!"
"What! What do you mean?" cried the old gentleman, glaring at her, and
Alicia exclaimed, "Why, Dolly Fayre! You rude little thing!"
"But what do you mean?" persisted Mr. Forbes. "Why do you call me Eddie?"
"Oh," and Dolly laughed, "that's a slang phrase that people say when they see through a joke."
"Joke, miss! Are you making fun of my antiques? Explain yourself!"
"Yes, what DO you mean, Dolly?" said Dotty, anxiously; "you can't mean to insult Mr. Forbes."
"You goosies!" cried Dolly, "he's fooling you. It's a joke on us."
"What is? What's a joke?"