“Oh dear me!” The chairman unfolded the first strip, and began to read. “A piano—why, girls, Miss Anstice can't play.”
“Well, it would look nice in that great big drawing-room,” said Clem, letting herself out with a very red face.
“Oh, my! you wrote a piano!” Alexia went over backward suddenly to lie flat on the floor and laugh. “Besides, there is one in that house.”
“An old thing!” exclaimed Clem in disdain.
“Well, let's see; here's something nice”—Polly ran along the list—“a handsome chair, a desk, a cabinet. Those are fine!”
“Clem has gone into the furniture business, I should think,” said Philena.
“And a cabinet!” exclaimed Amy Garrett, “when that house is just full of 'em.”
“Oh, I mean a jewel cabinet, or something of that sort,” explained Clem hastily.
“That's not bad,” announced Silvia, “for I suppose he'll give her all the rest of those heirlooms; great strings of pearls probably he's got, and everything else. Dear me, don't I wish we girls could see them!” and she lost herself in admiration over the fabulous Clemcy jewels.
“Well, Chairman—Polly, I mean”—Alexia flew into position—“what's the next list?”