“Yes, please do. I don't see anything to object to, except, perhaps, the things I have marked. Do you think we ought to be charged half a crown a day for the kitchen fire?”
“Fire in June! and you have never dined at home once?”
“No, but we have had tea several times.”
“It is a regular swindle,” said Tom, taking the bill and glancing at it. “Here, Hardy, come and help me cut down this precious total.”
They sat down to the bill, the ladies willingly giving place. Mary tripped off to the glass to tie her bonnet.
“Now that is all right!” she said merrily; “why can't one go on without bills or horrid money?”
“Ah! why can't one?” said Tom, “that would suit most of our complaints. But where's uncle; has he seen the bill?”
“No; Papa is in his room; he must not be worried, or the journey will be too much for him.”
Here the ladies'-maid arrived, with a message that her father wished to see Miss Winter.
“Leave your money, Katie,” said her cousin, “this is gentlemen's business, and Tom and Mr. Hardy will settle it all for us, I am sure.”