"Oh, we'd love to," I said eagerly. "We've got five mamas and eight children already, of course, but I'm sure everyone—"
"It would trouble you!" Mrs. His-tara exclaimed. Her eye stalks retracted and tears poured down her cheeks. "I do not want to be of difficulty," she said.
Since she had no apparent handkerchief and wore some sort of permanent-looking native dress, I tore a square out of my paper morning dress for her.
"You are too good!" she sobbed, fresh tears pouring out.
"No, no. I already tore out two for the children. I always get my skirts longer in cold weather because children are so careless about carrying—"
"Then we'll consider the car pool settled?" Mrs. Baden asked, coming in tactfully.