'Work must wait. We have got a great deal to do. Don't you agree with me, that every full cup ought to flow over into some empty ones?'
'Instead of into its own saucer?' said Hazel, who was rather abstractedly brushing off an imaginary grain of dust from his coat stuff. 'Perhaps it would be safe to allow that I do.'
'Well,' said Rollo laughing at her, 'there are plenty of empty cups.
How many can we fill to-morrow?'
'If you have been at work on that problem, no wonder you want play. How many?I do not know. How much too full is your cup to-night?'
'It feels like the widow's inexhaustible cruise of oil. And by the way, I believe that the store from which anybody may supply others, is inexhaustible. Now let us consider.' And he stood silent and thoughtful a few minutes, Hazel not interrupting him.
'I can tell you one thing,' he began again. 'Prudentia Coles would like a black silk dress; and she cannot afford it.'
'I certainly owe her that,' said Hazel,'and a royal purple to boot.'
'How do you "owe" it?'
'For tipping my cup over, once. I wonder whether she thought I was too happy to be let alone?'
'Give her both the dresses, Hazel. She is not a happy woman. It will fill her cup for the time being.'