Ernestine gave a little gasp, of relief.
"What is it this time?" she asked.
Then Milly explained her project at great length, growing more eloquent as she got deeper into the details of her conception, painting glowingly the opportunities of providing hungry Chicagoans with toothsome delicacies, and exhibiting a much more practical notion of the scheme than she had had of her other ideas.
"Chicago is the place," she asserted with conviction. "I'm known there, for one thing," she added with a touch of pride. "And it is the natural home of enterprise. They do things out there, instead of talking about them. You ought to know Chicago, Ernestine—I'm sure you'd like it."
The Laundryman asked in a dull tone:—
"Where'll you get the money to start your cake shop? For it will take money, a sight of money, to do all those things you talk about."
Milly hesitated a moment before this question.
"I don't know yet," she said thoughtfully, "but I think I shan't have much trouble in getting what capital I need. I have friends in Chicago, who promised to help me."
(It was perfectly true that Walter Kemp had said half jestingly to Milly when he last saw her,—"When you get ready to go into business, Milly, you must let me be your banker!")
"But," Milly continued meaningly, "I wanted to talk it over with you first. That's why I came back now."