Edina chuckled.
“I can’t get over the notion I should be twins,” she chuckled.
The gratified saleswoman parted from them with regret and many urgent invitations to visit her again.
“If I did that often,” chuckled Edina, “Paw would be bankrupt. As it is, I’ll have to write him for more money. He’ll like it, though,” she added in that gentler tone she always used when speaking of her parents. “Paw always wanted to do things for Maw and me. He wants us to have the best, Paw does.”
Laden with bundles, the two girls went below to the store tea room where they ordered creamed chicken on toast and apple tart.
Billie noticed that Edina ate carefully, picking up a knife or fork or spoon only when she was sure she had chosen the right one.
“Raw and crude enough,” thought Billie. “But intelligent and eager to learn. Her new clothes will give her confidence. Meantime, I am having the time of my life!”
Their appetites satisfied, the girls returned with a will to their shopping.
Shoes were bought, several pairs of them, and stockings to match. Then Billie led her protégé to the toilet goods counter where they bought creams and unguents.
“Anybody’d think I was going to be one of them movie queens,” Edina protested. “What do you suppose I’m going to do with that stuff?”