the mayonaise to sprinkle me.

"Well," she continued, "is there no answer? Of course, they are
good girls, and you'll treat them white, but--" Then the heavens
opened and the floods descended.

"Oh, John!" she sobbed; "how could you be so unkind, so cruel!
Think of it, a scandal on the very first day in my new home, and I
was so happy!"

I would confess everything. There was no other way out of it. I
was on my knees by her side just about to blurt forth the awful
truth when my courage failed and suddenly I switched my bet and
gave the cards another cut.

"It's all a mistake," I whispered; "it's only Bunch Jefferson doing
a comedy scene. Don't you understand, dear; when Bunch tries to
get funny all the undertakers have a busy season. I simply don't
know who he means by the two queens, and as for scandal, well, you
know me, Pete!"

I threw out my chest and gave an imitation of St. Anthony.

"You must know who he means," she insisted, brightening a bit,
however.

"Ah, I have it!" I cried, brave-hearted liar that I was; "he means
my Aunt Eliza and her daughter, Julia! You remember Aunt Eliza,
and Julia?"