He really fetched his arithmetic, and his voice was soon heard asking how he was ever to put an end to a sum that would turn to nothing but everlasting threes.
“What have you been doing, young ladies?” asked Dr. May. “Did you call on Miss Walkingham?”
“Flora and Blanche did,” said Ethel; “I thought you did not want me to go, and I had not time. Besides, a London grand young lady—oh!” and Ethel shook her head in disgust.
“That is not the way you treat Meta Rivers.”
“Oh, Meta is different! She has never been out!”
“I should have been glad for you to have seen Miss Walkingham,” said her father. “Pretty manners are improving; besides, old Lady Walkingham begged me to send my daughters.”
“I should not have seen her,” said Ethel, “for she was not well enough to let us in.”
“Was it not pushing?” said Flora. “There were the Andersons leaving their card!”
“Those Andersons!” exclaimed the doctor; “I am sick of the very sound of the name. As sure as my name is Dick May, I’ll include it in Margaret’s book of fines.”
Flora looked dignified.