The three ladies had passed on before Mr. Parke whispered the embarrassing news, and George, making sure his father was not joking again, said:
"I've got fifty cents in my pocket; I'll eat that up!"
"It may not digest, George, because silver is not considered healthy for the human stomach, you know," replied Mr. Parke.
"Oh, you know what I mean! I'll order that much," said George, laughing.
"Will you have enough to pay for a dish of ice cream and a sandwich?" asked Martha anxiously.
"We'll have to see what they charge for ice cream. You see the prices have gone so high since the war," returned Mr. Parke.
They were passing through into the forward car as they conversed, and now the children had all they could do to balance themselves as the car swayed from side to side in its rapid flight on the tracks.
At last they were safely seated in the dining-car, but the ladies and Mr. Parke occupied one table for four, while the children occupied another across the aisle.
Every one studied the menu card diligently, but to the horror of the children the ice cream was forty cents per plate. Sandwiches were twenty cents each, and tea or coffee, or cocoa, was twenty cents per cup.
"Humph! We won't eat much at this rate!" grumbled George.