“A very excellent menu, indeed,” said Amy, while a rather amused look passed over her face. “What do you suppose it will cost?”
“I don’t know,” said Mabel. “You cast it out and see. You understand prices better than I do.”
For a while there was silence, and nothing was heard but the scratching of a pencil. Then Amy read aloud:—“Lobster salad, 3s. 3d.; boiled fowls and egg sauce, 7s. 11d.”
“Oh, dear!” said Mabel.
“Well, you see, it is spring, and fowls are dear in the spring. I do not suppose you could get a fine pair for less than 3s. 6d. each. Beefsteak and oyster pie, 5s.; strawberry cream (made with your own jam), 1s. 8d.; orange jelly, 1s. 4d.; tarts and cheesecakes we will calculate roughly at 1s. 4d.; a little fruit, 2s.; tea and coffee (say 2d. per person), 1s. 4d.; bread and butter, 2s. Altogether say £1 5s. 10d.”
“That will never do,” said Mabel. “We must take something away.”
“For one thing, you might take the tarts and cheesecakes. Surely they are not necessary.”
“One wants a little trifle of the sort to conclude the meal,” said Mabel.
“Then make jam sandwich. I can give you a simple recipe, by following which you can produce a dishful for less than sixpence.”
“Thanks. But that will not make matters right. We must reduce much more than that.”