“Oh, so Mr. Burnham and Jones don’t hit it off?”
“Not very well. But mother really is attached to Jones and declined to discharge him even after the birthday dinner—you heard about that?” she broke off to inquire.
“No.”
Evelyn’s eyes danced. “It was Mr. Burnham’s birthday and mother gave a large party. The cook, a wonderful cake-maker, was told to make the birthday cake instead of getting it from Rauscher’s. Unfortunately she left the icing of the cake to Jones.” Evelyn paused dramatically. “Jones brought in the cake with the candles all lighted, and before it was cut the guests examined the decorations. In the center, done in chocolate, was the date of the day of the dinner, then Mr. Burnham’s initials, and right around the cake Jones had put in large lettering: ‘Prepare to meet thy God.’
“Mr. Burnham hasn’t any sense of humor,” added Evelyn. “And he hates to be made ridiculous; I don’t believe he has ever forgiven Jones and he is always pestering mother to discharge him.”
“Does Jones know it?”
“Oh, yes,” Evelyn laughed mischievously. “There is not much love lost between them.”
Maynard lowered his voice. “Is Mr. Burnham a pacifist, Evelyn?”
“I believe so, but I don’t pay much attention to his arguments,” she answered. “At one time he was a pronounced admirer of the Germans’ efficiency, but that was before we entered the war.”
Maynard thumped the neat pile of gravel he had raked up with his cane back into place before he again addressed Evelyn.