"If you eat enough of them you may get to Edinburgh to-night before you are very hungry," said John.
"The abbey cakes were unleavened," Bessie explained, "which these are not, so that they are less substantial fare."
"What do you raise them with?" asked Mrs. Parker.
"Butter, milk and carbonate of soda," said Miss Ormiston.
"We call Bessie a doctor of the Carbon," said John: "she makes very good scones, although you would hardly go from here to Canterbury on the strength of one of them."
"Mr. Forrester, are you dull?" asked Jessie: "you are not saying anything."
"I am too busy eating the holy cakes, Jessie," said Edwin: "your sister is a master in her art."
"I say," Jessie went on, "are you ever dull at home? When I told Bessie that you had come she was surprised, and said that you must surely be dull at home. I am sorry for you if you are: you should come here oftener—we are never dull here."
"Perhaps," said Edwin, "your sister thinks I come too often, as it is."