CHAPTER X
A WEIGHTY BUSINESS
I have always had a tender feeling about the great Idiot Asylum which teaches its children by means of keeping shop, with real pennies and real sweeties.
Now if there was one thing on which Julia Whittaker prided herself, it was that she could carry color in her eye. A great many people have the same belief, and it is a point upon which a very large number entirely deceive themselves.
On the very afternoon of the day that they had decided on the chintz for the curtains and covers, the sisters hied themselves to that part of London which is familiarly known as “the High Street.” Knowing that their mother would be away from the Park during all the hours which intervened between breakfast and dinner, so the girls determined that they would get something which would serve as lunch in one of the large shops in Kensington High Street which catered for that particular meal. Thus they had several hours before them for selection and consideration.
“Maudie,” said Julia, as they walked into the carpet room at John Barker’s, “there’s one thing we’ve never given a thought to.”
“What’s that?” asked Maudie.
“The blinds. And, mind you, the blinds will cost us a pretty penny.”
“Won’t those we have do?” Maudie suggested.