“And the plunder you have brought off, eh?” queried Blanche sedately, but with a twinkle of fun in her eye.
“That is included, of course,” returned Dorothy.
“It is not according to one’s strongest inclinations—this proposed waiting,” Ethel said laughingly, “but let us show how bravely we can battle against them when we feel called upon to do so. Shall I help you to some oysters, Dorothy?”
“Indeed you may, my dear girl. I am particularly fond of oysters when well prepared, as I have always found them here, and hungry enough to eat almost anything.”
“I am glad to hear it,” said Blanche, “since it will tend to cause you to more highly appreciate our humble fare.”
“Now don’t put on any airs of mock humility, if you please, Miss Eldon,” returned Dorothy. “I say this dinner is fit for a king; sufficient variety, and everything done to a turn. These oysters, this Sally Lunn, these baked potatoes are all delicious; and I never drank a better cup of coffee. So what more could any reasonable mortal ask?”
“I don’t know really,” returned Blanche, “except in my case—that I may be told what you two have seen, and done, and bought. Did you find our uncles in?”
“The senior partner was there in his office, the other out; so that we missed seeing him altogether. You will hear the rest after we have fully satisfied our appetites; but remember, my lady, it was not your things but Ethel’s we were buying to-day. You have probably been told more than once in the course of your short life, that older people must be attended to first, younger ones wait patiently till their turn comes.”
“Yes, I remember to have been told something of the sort several times in my life,” said Blanche; “but I venture to predict that I shall not hear it very often after a certain ceremony expected to be performed within the next two or three months.”
“Ah, after that you will probably consider yourself a much more important personage than—such of your sex as see fit to live in single blessedness.”