“Mrs. Hopp?” repeated Mrs. Derwall slowly. “Very well. You may show her up here.” And when no maid was there to answer: “I wonder what Julie Hopp wants now. People are so funny. The ones you like are as scarce as auks’ eggs, while the ones who——”
But at that moment Mrs. Hopp somewhat prematurely appeared. Mrs. Derwall rose to meet her with outstretched hands:
“My dear, what grandeur! You must be out for a campaign.”
“I am, Sophie dear,” responded the caller with an effusive embrace. “And I want you to join it. Hurry up and put your hat on.”
“If that were all I had to put on! And here you have been prinking since five o’clock in the morning. What in the world are you up to now?”
“Well,” replied Mrs. Hopp, “I’m going in to town on the ten-twenty, to begin with. And then I’m going to lunch somewhere. And after that I’m going shopping——”
Mrs. Derwall began to shake her head.
“No use to come here, Julie. It’s too soon after Christmas. And I’m on my June allowance now. I sha’n’t be able to stir out of the house this year—except when Lou happens to feel a little kindly disposed.”
The melancholy tone of this declaration caused Mrs. Hopp to smile.
“Well, I’ll trust Lou!”