“But it’s very instructive,” she declared in answer to Babbie’s protests. “I’ve made a beautiful collection of menu cards for us to consider to-night. I’ll get Bob Enderby to do us a design that will make a regular hit by itself. What’s that, Betty? Of course a menu design isn’t the principal thing. But it will be a beautiful feature, like the china. Well, this is the sixth cup of tea I’ve had, so I don’t mind stopping now. If you girls don’t like my methods, suggest something else. I think we’ve had a most entertaining morning, and garnered in loads of valuable ideas.”
“Well, but what have we actually decided?” demanded Betty, the matter-of-fact.
Madeline told off the points solemnly on her fingers. “To have waitresses with soulful eyes and, if possible, adorable French accents. To remember that it is the special features that people tell their friends to go and see, but the food must be passable too, or they’ll never come twice. To have immaculate linen, and china that matches. To provide dusky corners for romantic couples.”
Babbie sniffed. “I hate romantic couples!”
“They order recklessly,” Madeline argued. “Therefore, for mercenary considerations, they must be encouraged.”
“But aren’t those things we would have done anyway?” pursued Betty. “I think we ought to find a place and get started, and then look out for the features.”
Madeline considered. “That sounds sensible. Well, then, let’s discuss sites.”
“Wouldn’t it be a good plan to know something definite about rents?” suggested Betty, who foresaw that Madeline’s next move would be a leisurely promenade up Fifth Avenue, which would be very pleasant but productive of no tangible results.
“Rents—of course. I’ll tell you what!” Madeline had had another inspiration. “I know a man who is in real estate—the one we rent our place from. I’ll call him up and ask him if he’s too busy to enlighten us this very afternoon.”
Madeline came back from the telephone in high spirits. “He will be dee-lighted to see us. Oh, dee-lighted is out of fashion, isn’t it, since I went away? Well, proud and happy then. Come along. It’s only a little way from here, and we can do up the whole thing before dinner.”