Part 5 (2/2)
”Think well before you pursue it; But when you begin, go through it.”
”Now what'll we have for dinner?”
Lady Magnifico was walking languidly about, admiring herself in the mirror, Dr. Moons.h.i.+ne rummaging an old closet, and Baby pulling out the bureau drawers.
”They have the easy part. But never mind; I'll show them what I can do.
Mother says I have a great deal more taste for cooking than Susy has.
Didn't I make pickles all one vacation?”
Then Prudy sat down with the ”Housekeeper's Friend,” and began at the first page to read. Half an hour pa.s.sed, and no signs of her moving.
”I'm hunger-y,” whispered Baby, taking a sugar-coated pill out of a box, and touching it with her tongue. It was sweet till her teeth went into it, when out rolled the little ball upon the floor.
”O, my shole! How bitter!” groaned she, wiping her mouth on a lace cuff.
”'Spect that's a pill, and they cooked it in sugar; but I shan't eat it.”
”Little daughter, what are you doing there? Mustn't meddle with other folks' things.” Dr. Moons.h.i.+ne sneezed as he spoke, having breathed some of the ”dust of ages” into his nose off a top shelf, where Mrs. Fixfax kept a few herbs. Ten minutes more. The doctor stepped down from the chair-back on which he had been standing, and gazed hard at his landlady. She was turning the sixteenth page.
”My Lady Magnifico!”
”Sir?”
”My lady, do you happen to have such a thing as a peanut in your pocket?”
My lady shook the cat out of the armchair, and seated herself.
”It isn't polite to carry round peanuts.”
”I was only thinking,” continued the doctor, with a side glance at Mother Hubbard, ”how nice a peanut would be to keep anybody from fainting away.”
Mother Hubbard started from her chair. ”What unfas.h.i.+onable boarders! You don't expect dinner in the middle of the day, I hope! In the city of New York we don't have it till five or six o'clock. I'm afraid you came down too soon, Dr. Moons.h.i.+ne.”
”Afraid I did. Wish I was 'the man in the South.' I'd like to 'burn my mouth' on a little 'cold plum porridge.'”
”Haven't any for you; but I'll give you a lunch. What say to omelettes and coffee?”
”Excellent,” said Dr. Moons.h.i.+ne, reviving.
”Exquisite,” drawled my lady.
”_Exquit_,” quoth Fly.
”Only there isn't any coffee,” said Mother Hubbard, going to the cupboard.
”Call it tea,” said the doctor, ”and hurry up.”
”No, chocolate is better. How do you make chocolate?” said the landlady, turning to her cook-book.
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