Mrs. Ginsburg tipped the glass against her lips.
"To my two children! God bless them and poor papa!"
"The first time I ever seen mamma drink wine, Ruby. She hates it—that shows how much she likes you already. Eat your dessert, mamma; it'll take the taste away. You like noodle dumplings? Such dumplings as these you should learn to make, Ruby-la."
"Children, you have had enough supper?"
"It was a grand supper, mamma."
They scraped their chairs backward from the table and smiled satiated, soul-deep smiles. From the sitting-room a clock chimed the half-hour.
"So late, children! Ach, how time flies when there's excitement! You and Ruby go in the parlor—I do the dishes so quick you won't know it."
"Ruby can help you with the dishes, mamma."
"Sure I can; we can do 'em in a hurry, and then go maybe to a picture show or some place."
"Picture show—nine o'clock!"