Part 16 (2/2)
”Yes, and have refreshments for just you two?” cried Carol.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”Yes, and have refreshments for just you two?”]
”That is my intention most certainly. The twins and Connie will not put in appearance at all. Prue will serve the refreshments, and will eat with us. Babbie and I shall spend the evening in the front room.”
”The front room?” echoed Prudence. ”This room is much cheerier, and more homelike.”
”Well, Babbie isn't a member of the family, you know,” said Fairy.
”You are doing your best,” sniffed Carol.
”Now, you girls must understand right off, that things are different here from what they were at Exminster. When boys came to the house there they came to have a good time with the whole family. But here it is very different. I've been looking around, and I've got on to the system. The proper thing is to receive callers privately, without the family en ma.s.se sitting by and superintending. That's etiquette, you know. And one must always serve refreshments. More etiquette. Men are such greedy animals, they do not care to go places where the eats aren't forthcoming.”
”Men! Are you referring to this Babbling creature now?” interposed Carol.
”Ouch!” said Lark.
”But won't it be rather--poky--just sitting in the front room by yourselves all evening?” asked Prudence doubtfully, ignoring the offended twins.
”Oh, I dare say it will. But it's the proper thing to do,” said Fairy complacently.
”What are you going to do all evening?” Connie wanted to know. ”Just sit and look at each other and admire yourselves?”
The twins thought this very clever of Connie, so they both said ”Ouch!”
approvingly.
”Why, no, baby dear,” said Fairy good-naturedly. ”We shall talk.
Feast our souls with a flow of reason, you know. We shall converse.
We shall hold pleasant intercourse.”
”Wouldn't it be more fun to have the girls in for a little while?”
This from Prudence.
”Oh, it might,--but it wouldn't be the proper thing at all. College men do not care to be entertained by babies.”
”No,” snapped Lark, ”the wisdom of babies is too deep for these--these--these men in embryo.”
This was so exquisitely said that Lark was quite restored to amiability by it. ”In embryo,” had been added to her vocabulary that very day in the biology cla.s.s. It was only the sheerest good fortune which gave her the opportunity of utilizing it so soon. And Carol said ”Ouch!”
with such whole-souled admiration that Lark's spirit soared among the clouds. She had scored!
”And what shall we serve them?” urged Prudence. ”I suppose it would hardly do to--pop corn, would it?”
”No, indeed. Popping corn is very nice for the twins and the little boys in the neighborhood.” Fairy smiled with relish as she saw the twins wince at this thrust. ”But Babbie and I-- Oh, never! It wouldn't do at all. Now, oyster stew and crackers,--I mean wafers,----”
”Oysters are fearfully expensive, Fairy,” objected the frugal Prudence.
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