“What do you propose to pay for your roast of beef?”
“It will be at least $2, for it is of no use getting less than eight pounds; and chops for to-day will be about 35 cents.”
“And how long will the roast last?”
“It has to last till Tuesday, though out of an eight-pound roast there isn’t much but bone and fat the third day.”
“And you have then something extra to get for breakfast?”
She laughed a little. “To tell the truth, our breakfast is slim; I can’t afford meat, and Mr. Lennox usually has an egg or two; he never cares, fortunately, for a heavy breakfast, but prefers knick-knacks.”
“This is the sort of housekeeping Harry dreaded,” thought Molly, but she said aloud, “Then you would really spend $2.35 this morning for meat to last till Tuesday?”
“At the very least, but more likely $2.75, for they could hardly cut me exactly eight pounds.”
“Then I would suggest you get, instead of the roast, either a leg of mutton at 15 cents a pound, or a piece of beef at the same price for à la mode beef; and if you choose the mutton, then you will have a really nice pot-pie to-night in place of chops. You will find that you will buy ten pounds of meat for $1.50, and then you can get some of the knick-knacks Mr. Lennox likes for breakfast.”
“But he won’t look at cold mutton, or Irish stew made of it.”