“I’m just seeing if I’m heavy enough to close the lid of my trunk,” was the answer. “No, I’m not,” she exclaimed, as she hopped on and hopped off again.
“Look out!” called Belle. “You nearly stepped on my veil-box, Bess.”
“Sorry, Sis, but you shouldn’t leave it on the floor.”
The plump one stood looking at the bulging trunk, and then drew a long breath.
“Girls!” she cried, “I’m losing weight.”
“How do you know?” asked her sister promptly.
“Couldn’t close my trunk lid. That’s the way I can always tell. Problem: Given a trunk, which requires a force of one hundred and thirty-five pounds to close down the lid, and a girl of one hundred and fifteen, how many chocolates must the said girl eat before she is heavy enough to close the lid? Answer—one pound, and here’s for a starter,” saying which pretty, plump Bess rummaged in a pile of her belongings until she found what she was after. Then, sinking down in a heap of silk petticoats she began munching bonbons with a contented air.
“Bess Robinson!” gasped Cora. “You’re never going to do that; are you?”
“Do what?” came with an innocent air.
“Sit there and eat chocolates until you’re heavy enough to close down the lid of your trunk.”