tea-party, as they had all been invited by everybody,­the
Bromwicks, the Tremletts, and the Gibbonses. It would be such a
good chance to pay off some of their old debts, now that the lady
from Philadelphia was back again, and her two daughters, who
would be sure to make it all go off well.

But as soon as they began to make out the list, they saw there were
too many to have at once, for there were but twelve cups and
saucers in the best set.

"There are seven of us, to begin with," said Mr. Peterkin.

"We need not all drink tea," said Mrs. Peterkin.

"I never do," said Solomon John. The little boys never did.

"And we could have coffee, too," suggested Elizabeth Eliza.

"That would take as many cups," objected Agamemnon.

"We could use the every-day set for the coffee," answered
Elizabeth Eliza; "they are the right shape. Besides," she went on,
"they would not all come. Mr. and Mrs. Bromwick, for instance;
they never go out."

"There are but six cups in the every-day set," said Mrs. Peterkin.

The little boys said there were plenty of saucers; and Mr. Peterkin
agreed with Elizabeth Eliza that all would not come. Old Mr.
Jeffers never went out.