“I never felt pulled in so many directions in my life,” complained Babe wearily. “The shop-windows are so fascinating, and things are all so cheap, and it’s such fun paying for them in this comical English money.”
“And your friends will all be so glad to get whatever you don’t want for yourself because it came from abroad,” put in Babbie. “I’m going to do all my Christmas shopping here and in Paris.”
“Yes, I want to, too,” agreed Babe, “but all the time I’m in the shops I keep thinking how the places I’ve wanted to see for ages and perhaps never can see again are all within a stone’s throw—well, within a ’bus-ride, if you like that better, and I decide to go sight-seeing with Madeline. But when you and Mrs. Hildreth and Betty come home at night with all your fascinating packages from Liberty’s and the Irish lace stores, why then I wish I’d shopped.”
“You can’t have everything,” said Madeline sagely. “That’s been my motto for years, and it’s never so useful as when I’m traveling. You don’t enjoy anything unless you make up your mind not to worry about the things you’ve got to miss. I’m going shopping myself to-morrow.”
“I thought you hated it,” exclaimed all her auditors at once.
“But this isn’t any ordinary shopping tour. I’m going to buy Eleanor’s duke—that is, if the rest of you will trust me to pick him out.”
“Of course we will,” said Babbie, “but why can’t we all come, too, and help?”
“Babbie, you promised me you would stay quietly at home to-morrow and rest,” Mrs. Hildreth reminded her.
“Well, so I will,” Babbie gave up cheerfully. “And Babe has a luncheon engagement with the friend from home that she met in the American express office.”
“Then Betty and I will go duke-hunting,” said Madeline. “That suits me perfectly. Too many matchmakers would be fatal. The duke would detect our eagerness and demand an exorbitant settlement. Dukes come high, you know, at best, so be prepared to be generous with your shillings.”