Next came the victualling, and this was exceedingly interesting, although
it made great holes in the sovereign box. Janet and Mary Rotheram sat for
hours over the Stores List, and they were continually taking important
questions to Collins.

"How many tins of mustard ought we to take? A dozen at fourpence? "

"Mustard, Miss Mary? Why, two penny ones would be enough for a month."

(Three and tenpence saved, you see.)

"I say, Collins, how long do eggs boil?"

"Collins, you have to prick sausages, don't you, or else they burst?"

"Collins, how many loaves do eight people want a day?"

"Four, Miss Janet, at the least--large ones."

"Including Kink? " Janet explained.

"Oh, Kink too! Five, then, if not six, the old gormandizer."

"Collins, what's the best part of beef for stewing?"

"Collins, you can put anything into a stew, can't you? Absolutely anything?"

"Collins, if you've put too much pepper into a thing, is there any way of
getting it out again?"