Mrs. Sully cleared away the dishes and appeared with the dessert, a steaming rich pudding which she placed before Azalea, who served it upon individual plates.
“Iris and I seldom indulge ourselves when we are here alone,” Azalea remarked, “but we remember how young girls like sweets.”
“I’m afraid you have gone to a great deal of trouble on our account,” Doris said.
“Not at all,” Azalea assured her. “It is a pleasure to have you here. We have so few visitors.”
It seemed to Doris, who chanced to be watching Mrs. Sully, that an irritated expression passed over her face.
“She doesn’t like it because we are here,” Doris thought. “Probably thinks we’ll make her more work!”
She picked up her dessert spoon, but before she could start eating her pudding, there came an unexpected interruption. A loud barking and growling grated upon the ears of the diners.
Doris and Kitty exchanged guilty glances. It was Wags!
“Gracious!” Iris murmured. “What can be the matter?”
Embarrassed, Kitty looked down at her plate.