“Suppose Dorothy and I both be ‘waitresses’?” suggested John. “That would be only fair, if you do the cooking.”
“I thought I’d get Eliza in to cook,” said his mother.
“That’s a good idea!” commented John. “Still, I stick to the waitress plan. I think I’d make a hit in a cap and apron.”
Dorothy laughed at the picture of John in a waitress’s costume, and she too urged Mrs. Hadley to let them adopt the plan.
“Well, whatever you like,” said the older woman. “And now since it’s all settled, I guess I had better go write the letter.”
But before she had reached her desk, the door-bell rang, and she went to answer it. A telegraph messenger asked whether Mr. John Hadley lived there.
“Yes,” replied Mrs. Hadley, mechanically taking the envelope and signing the paper. Then, closing the door she handed the telegram to her son.
“I suppose your firm want you to go to New York or Boston, or some such place again,” she said with resignation. “They seem to expect to send you all over the globe.”
John smiled, and tore open the telegram.
“By George, I’ve got a real trip this time!” he exclaimed. “Two places in California, and a stop in Wyoming on the way back!”