“Oh, excuse my ignorance. I thought it was called polonaise,” he answered humbly.
“Polonaise,” exclaimed the little lady, amid a wild whoop of laughter. “It’s a good thing you brought your daughter to a woman member to have her education finished. Goodness me!”
“Dearest Papa,” said Billie, kissing him, “don’t you wear negligée shirts most all the time? It’s the same thing.”
“I thought all ladies wore polonaises,” insisted Mr. Campbell. “It certainly was the fashion in my youth, at any rate.”
“Fashions change with the times and manners, my boy,” said Miss Campbell. “But do give us the rules for the men of this household before you forget it.”
“‘Sub-rules for Men Members.
“‘Men are required to look after the wants of the ladies and see that they obey their set of rules to the letter.’”
“And is that all?” demanded the women members with a great show of indignation. “Why, we have no rights at all and they have everything!”
“No indeed, children,” answered Mr. Campbell. “When a man is required to look after the wants of five ladies, he at once gives up all rights of his own and becomes a slave. There is no need of making any more rules for the men, but there is one more rule for general obedience.
“‘All questions and disputes arising shall be settled by Helen Eustace Campbell, Captain of Sunrise Camp.’”