“And we want to see the streets and the shops and the people,” added May. “It’s a perfect waste of opportunity to come to New York and spend half your time in subways, Morris!”
So Morris gave in with fairly good grace, grumbling a little at the foolishness of girls, and boarded a surface car. He made the mistake of turning eastward instead of toward the west when they alighted at Eighteenth Street and had to stand some joking from his companions when the error was discovered. Marsden’s proved to be a huge establishment occupying a building of its own, with floor after floor of wonderful things. For over an hour they trotted around, in and out of elevators, up and down endless aisles, at the heels of a most imposing gentleman in a frock coat and immaculate gray trousers. Morris declared afterwards that he didn’t have much chance to see the furniture, he was all the time admiring the creases in those trousers and wondering whether they were starched! May, on the other hand, confessed that she had been quite hypnotized by the salesman’s lovely whiskers! So, if we believe them, Louise was the only member of the Purchasing Committee able to give her entire attention to the matter at hand. And Louise did, occasionally reprimanding the others for their levity, or begging them to please help her decide. It was, in fact, really Louise who made the purchases, for when the others were not exchanging whispered jokes they were usually wandering around far from the article in discussion.
It was no easy task to decide, either, for Marsden’s showed so many styles and values that Louise was quite at sea. But at last everything on the list was accounted for and, to their delight, the total, after deducting the discount, was well under the ninety dollars. Even the filing-cabinet, which Morris had predicted they would have to look elsewhere for, was obtainable at Marsden’s. At the last, because they still had several dollars left unexpended, Louise ordered a handsome wastebasket of Japanese woven ware, the color of which almost exactly matched the mahogany of the other things, on her own authority. They gave Mr. Brent’s address, obtained the salesman’s promise to have the goods shipped by freight not later than the next afternoon, paid the bill and emerged triumphant.
“I think we did beautifully,” exulted May as they joined the throng on the sidewalk outside. “And we have nearly four dollars left!”
“Yes,” agreed Morris, with a grin, “I think we did pretty well myself. I don’t want to seem to be taking too much credit, but I must say that without my assistance in there——”
“Your assistance!” interrupted Louise almost crossly. “You were both about as much use as—as nothing at all! I think you acted horridly. I know that man thought you were crazy.”
“He’s got nothing on me, then,” laughed Morris. “I’m mighty sure I thought he was! Say, if the salesmen dress the way he does, Sis, what do you suppose Marsden himself wears? Bet you he’s covered with purple velvet and gold lace. Gee, I’d like to see him!”
For another hour or more the two girls shopped, Morris dangling along and complaining at every doorway. They didn’t buy much, but they had the finest sort of a good time and, or so Morris averred, were in such a condition of amazed and delighted awe that their eyes very nearly popped from their heads! And then, of a sudden, Morris, who had been standing on first one foot and then the other, and who had been buffeted and pushed and squeezed and jammed, and who was more tired than if he had put in a hard two hours of football practice, discovered to his joy and relief that they had just time to reach the station to get the train home, and literally dragged the girls from the store they were in. But before they could reach the car-line the brilliant windows of a famous confectioner sprang into view and May squealed with delight and refused to go home until she had had an ice-cream soda. After that it was a close shave, but they eventually reached the train before it pulled out and, thoroughly breathless and tired, sank into their seats and viewed each other in triumph.
[“I’ve had the loveliest time,” announced Louise exultantly], “and I’m simply tired—to—death!”