"I expect you'll come back with that nice red and white shirt of yours mud all over, Brian," said Ida.
"Oh, that doesn't matter so long as we win," answered her cousin.
"If the ladies will excuse it, I think I'd better serve you first, Brian," said Mr. Ormond, as the cover was removed, disclosing a couple of roast fowls. "Then you'll have time to get into your war paint.—My dear," the speaker continued, addressing his wife, "I wish I could have the proper poultry-carver instead of this big knife."
"Isn't it laid?" inquired Mrs. Ormond.—"Jane, you should have put the smaller carving-knife."
"Please, 'm," answered the maid. "I meant to do so, but I can't find it."
"Can't find it! Doesn't Sarah know where it is?"
"No, ma'am; she says she remembers it being brought in the last time it was sent out to be cleaned, but we can't find it now. We turned the cupboard out just before dinner-time."
"Are you sure that Henry hasn't had it to clean, and left it behind in the tool-house when he brought in the other knives?"
"Yes, 'm; we've looked there."
"Oh, never mind," said the master of the house; "I'll make this knife do now; you'll find the other somewhere."