"And you, Boss?"
"Only one. How many did you eat?"
"Only half a one, but I finished all the juice in the dish—"
"Juice!" I cried. "Why, Mary, that was brandy and kirschwasser, and two or three other things."
"Don't I know it? But I never thought, Missis dear, I came here to rubber at that fight between Miss Farquhar and the little blister—"
"Mary!"
"Not a word more, Missis dear, if you don't like it! But anyhow I came here to—rest myself, and I began absent-mindedly to take a sip out of this big spoon here, and soon it was all gone. Then when you all went into the other room, I tried to get up, but my legs didn't want to, and, be the powers, they haven't wanted to since, though I've tried 'em every two minutes or so. I've just set here, helpless as a new-born babe that can't roll over in its crib. I meant to flag the first one of you that went past the door, for if somebody would prop me up in front of the sink, I could begin on a pile of dishes there big enough to scare a dog from his cats."
Aubrey and I leaned against each other in silent but hysterical delight. Mary was deeply pleased to see us so diverted.
Her legs recovered sufficiently before we left for her to walk to the sink, while we went back to our guests.
Every one was leaving, and Artie was taking Cary home. I looked to see how Flora took it, but her appealing blue eyes were fixed in their most appealing way upon the Also Ran, who was plainly undergoing thrills of exquisite torture therefrom. Jimmie gave one look at the tableau, and turned toward the door with his tongue in his cheek.