"Very nice, my dear," said Miss Campbell, "you may bring in luncheon as
soon as you can."

After she had gone there was a brief but eloquent silence.

"Do, some one, make a joke," whispered Elinor.

At that moment a strange looking bob-tailed cat walked by.

"There," cried Nancy, and they all instantly burst into hysterical
laughter.

"In the name of good health and excellent digestion, tell me what are
doormats?" asked Billie.

"Dear knows," answered her cousin, "but I think if they must be eaten it
would be best to take boiled sponges afterward."

The luncheon was purely Japanese, in spite of the English menu, and it
was really excellent.

"I never thought to come to eels," Miss Campbell observed, but she
enjoyed her portion, nevertheless.

"Doormats a la U. S." turned out to be a sweet cake with a sugary icing.

"I believe they were intended for doughnuts," observed that astute little
person, Mary Price, and no doubt she was quite right.

When the feast was over Miss Campbell paid the bill, which was