"Very nice, my dear," said Miss Campbell, "you may bring in luncheon as soon as you can."
After she had gone there was a brief but eloquent silence.
"Do, some one, make a joke," whispered Elinor.
At that moment a strange looking bob-tailed cat walked by.
"There," cried Nancy, and they all instantly burst into hysterical laughter.
"In the name of good health and excellent digestion, tell me what are doormats?" asked Billie.
"Dear knows," answered her cousin, "but I think if they must be eaten it would be best to take boiled sponges afterward."
The luncheon was purely Japanese, in spite of the English menu, and it was really excellent.
"I never thought to come to eels," Miss Campbell observed, but she enjoyed her portion, nevertheless.
"Doormats a la U. S." turned out to be a sweet cake with a sugary icing.