But he failed to ask. When he next appeared, he carried cups of broth and placed them before the children. This done, he stooped and said to George, in a voice distinctly heard by those fearfully listening:
"Ah'm goin' to pile dat cream up high when yo' all is ready for dessert!"
Then winking understandingly at the doubtful faces, he went back to the kitchen.
George looked in the cup of broth and turned to glance at his father for instructions, but the elders were busy with their own broth. Then George decided upon a courageous measure.
"We need something and we didn't order this soup. If we take it now the ladies who ordered more than they should will have to cancel some of their dinner. Come on and drink the broth before we are told not to."
Thereupon, a great sipping and swallowing of hot liquid ensued, and soup, that despised item at home, was quickly enjoyed, for there was a dearth of more to follow—so thought the travellers about that table.
Before they were quite finished, however, fish was brought on and the waiter said: "Ah'm tol' to bring turkey wid cranberry sauce and candied sweets. Is dat all right foh de whole party?"
Then George suspected a hoax. He jumped up and caught his father trying to hide a smile back of his dinner napkin.
"Is this one of your practical jokes again?" demanded George.
But an answer was unnecessary when he laughed so heartily that the ladies joined in. George was disgusted as he turned and remarked: