“In spite of my not being an English girl?” she returned laughingly.
“Oh, assuredly, Miss Lulu! That could make no difference; in fact, I believe Englishmen are, as a class, great admirers of American ladies.”
“In which they show their good taste,” laughed Max. “My father says American ladies compare favorably with those of any other nation. I wish you could see Mamma Vi and Grandma Elsie.”
“Who are they?” asked Albert, with a puzzled look.
“Mamma Vi is papa’s wife; his second wife, while we are the children of the first. Her name is Violet; she isn’t old enough to be our real mother, so she told us to call her Mamma Vi. Grandma Elsie is her mother, and we call her that to distinguish her from an older lady whom we call grandma also.”
“Ah, yes, I think I understand. That’s one of your American ways, I suppose. And where are those ladies you would like to show me? not in this state, I fancy, as I remember seeing you on the cars long before we entered it.”
“Yes,” replied Max, with an amused look, “our home is so far away that we crossed several states in coming here. But this is not a state.”
“Isn’t? What then?”
“A territory.”
“Ah, excuse me, but I don’t know the difference.”