“It is useful then?” queried Peggy next; but this question fared no better than the first.
“Not a bit,” cried Mellicent. “It used to be, or, at least, part of it did, but now it can do nothing at all but just—”
“Be careful, dear! You will give them a clue. Oh yes, I think we can say it is useful. Its general characteristic is usefulness, and it will soon settle down again into its old ways.”
Peggy turned to Rob with a gesture of despair, and then started afresh on a different tack.
“Is it an article in general use? Do you find one in every house?”
“No, no!”
“In our house?”
Giggles from Mellicent, reproving glances from her father, a decided “No!” from Mrs Asplin.
“In Rob’s house?”
“N–ot at present!”