"We all ought to have gone," said Mrs. Enslee; but Willie has no sense of obligation to his employees.
He ignored the suggestion and raged on, "Well, Dobbs isn't our only servant, is he?"
"No," Persis explained; "but, you see, he's marrying the housekeeper's daughter, and the butler is best man, and the maids are bridesmaids—"
"Romance everywhere," Willie sneered, as he laid off his things and threw them on a chair, "except up-stairs. I suppose that's why my man was so surly when I told him he'd have to stay and dress me. He'll probably cut my throat while he shaves me. I wish he would."
"That's cheerful!" said Persis. "What brings you home from the club so early? It's such an unusual honor."
"I heard something I didn't like—gossip."
"Tell us what you heard," Mrs. Enslee asked, hungrily.
"I prefer not to retail club gossip in my home," said Willie.
"Oh, aren't we punctilious?" Persis railed; and Willie answered, curtly:
"One of us ought to be."