“‘I am truly glad you think so; I am always happy when you are pleased with me.’
“‘You will always be happy, then, for I am always pleased with you.’
“‘Do you think Harry and Viola will ever make matters up, and be as they were in the good old days?’
“‘Yes, certainly I do; Harry’s pride has undergone considerable shrinkage since Viola’s troubles commenced, and I think he will be glad to come down from his lofty hobby.’
“‘You must put your wits to work, Eddie, so as to help me bring them to an understanding. I am going to have dinner served in Viola’s room, and you must assist in keeping up the conversation, and not sit there looking as if you had a blister-plaster over your mouth, as you did a while ago, but try to invent something to talk about. Now come along, and I’ll put you to work,’ and she led me to the steward’s headquarters.
“‘Mr. Toddleburg,’ said Lottie, ‘I want you to help me get a good dinner to-day, to be served in Miss Bramlett’s room; will you do it?’
“‘How could anybody refuse to do anything when requested by Miss Wallingford?’
“‘Thank you, thank you, Mr. Toddleburg; you are very kind.’
“As Lottie passed on and entered the cook-room, the little man said to me:
“‘That is the prettiest young lady I ever saw, sir, and she is as good as she is pretty. I’ll do anything to please her.’