“My mamma has a rusty stove, and our Henry Mann could take it to Old Bluff,” replied Mary.
“But there’s no furniture,—not a chair or a table.”
“They have too many chairs at Major Patten’s and Mr. Jones’s; their houses are running over with chairs.”
“Well, what about dishes?”
“Why, papa,” said Fanny eagerly, “only think what lots of dishes we have, just oceans, all broken to pieces!”
“Ah, shall you eat from broken dishes?” asked Mrs. Townsend coolly. “And perhaps you’ll sleep on the floor?”
“O no, Mrs. Townsend, our house is full of beds! Mamma has some of them put in the stable, and Blanche Jones’s house is full of beds, and they have to keep some of them in the attic. Everybody has everything; we’ve talked it all over. And there’s our big express wagon, and our Henry Mann to drive.”
Mary paused for breath.
“Yes, papa, Dr. Gray’s express wagon is very large; and we have a push-cart, you know. So can’t we go?” coaxed Fanny, true to first principles.
“What have I to do about it, little Miss Townsend? It seems you have already made your plans and invited your guests. How happened you to think to ask my permission for the rent of the house.”