"Bunny! What a ghastly gathering! For goodness' sake, don't look at me like that! I feel like a painted marionette!"
"Are you painted?" said Bunny. "You don't look it."
She made a vehement gesture of disgust. "As soon as this show it over, I shall get into riding things and go like the—like the—"
"Like the dish when it ran away with the spoon," suggested Bunny with a grin, as she paused. "Well, if you'll be the spoon, I'll be the dish, and we'll show 'em all a clean pair of heels. Shall we?"
"I certainly won't be the spoon," said Toby with decision. "You can find someone else to play that part. Try Miss Melrose! She doesn't look as if she'd object."
"She's a very pretty girl," said Bunny rather aggressively.
"Of course she's a pretty girl. It's what she's for." Toby's chin went up. "She couldn't be anything else."
Bunny laughed. "Well, cheer up! She's not the only one on board. Do you know any of these people?"
Toby shook her head promptly. "And don't want! Aren't they awful? Oh, here's Jake! Wonder how much he's enjoying himself."
Whether Jake were enjoying himself or not was not apparent in his manner as he came up and shook hands with Bunny, then turned to lift his little girl on to his shoulder.