"That was very good of you," returned the girl, with insolent coolness; "I fear I lost sight of the fact afterwards. But here I am at last, and desperately hungry too, mother dear; so don't let us waste time in words."
"My dear Juliet!" protested Mrs. Tracy; but she began quickly to serve her.
"You are surely not going to sit down as you are?" said Salome.
"Why not?" retorted Juliet. "It's quite proper to wear your hat at luncheon."
"But this is our dinner," said Hannah.
"What does it matter?" asked Juliet. "What's in a name? A potato, please, Salome. Oh, you need not look at my hands; they are quite clean, I assure you. I washed them in the dressing-room before I left school. Just fancy I am Mrs. Hayes, and it will be all right."
"Never mind, dears," said Mrs. Tracy hurriedly, as she met the disapproving glances of her elder daughters; "it is better she should take her dinner quickly. Ann is so put out when the meals are kept about."
"You had better speak to Juliet about that," said Salome. "It is not Hannah and I who keep the meals about."
"Oh, of course it is me," said Juliet, with more emphasis than grammar; "everything that happens is always my fault."
"Oh, hush, my dear!" said her mother, looking uneasy.