‘My dear Mrs. Alicumpaine,’ said Mrs. Orange, ‘how do you do? Pray stay to dinner. We have but a simple joint of sweet-stuff, followed by a plain dish of bread and treacle; but, if you will take us as you find us, it will be _so_ kind!’ ‘Don’t mention it,’ said Mrs. Alicumpaine. ‘I shall be too glad. But what do you think I have come for, ma’am? Guess, ma’am.’ ‘I really cannot guess, ma’am,’ said Mrs. Orange. ‘Why, I am going to have a small juvenile party to-night,’ said Mrs. Alicumpaine; ‘and if you and Mr. Orange and baby would but join us, we should be complete.’ ‘More than charmed, I am sure!’ said Mrs. Orange. ‘So kind of you!’ said Mrs. Alicumpaine. ‘But I hope the children won’t bore you?’ ‘Dear things! Not at all,’ said Mrs. Orange. ‘I dote upon them.’ Mr. Orange here came home from the city; and he came, too, with a ring-ting-ting. ‘James love,’ said Mrs. Orange, ‘you look tired. What has been doing in the city to-day?’ ‘Trap, bat, and ball, my dear,’ said Mr. Orange, ‘and it knocks a man up.’ ‘That dreadfully anxious city, ma’am,’ said Mrs. Orange to Mrs. Alicumpaine; ‘so wearing, is it not?’ ‘O, so trying!’ said Mrs. Alicumpaine. ‘John has lately been speculating in the peg-top ring; and I often say to him at night, “John, _is_ the result worth the wear and tear?”’ Dinner was ready by this time: so they sat down to dinner; and while Mr. Orange carved the joint of sweet-stuff, he said, ‘It’s a poor heart that never rejoices. Jane, go down to the cellar, and fetch a bottle of the Upest ginger-beer.’ At tea-time, Mr. and Mrs. Orange, and baby, and Mrs. Alicumpaine went off to Mrs. Alicumpaine’s house. The children had not come yet; but the ball-room was ready for them, decorated with paper flowers. ‘How very sweet!’ said Mrs. Orange. ‘The dear things! How pleased they will be!’ ‘I don’t care for children myself,’ said Mr. Orange, gaping. ‘Not for girls?’ said Mrs. Alicumpaine. ‘Come! you care for girls?’ Mr. Orange shook his head, and gaped again. ‘Frivolous and vain, ma’am.’ ‘My dear James,’ cried Mrs. Orange, who had been peeping about, ‘do look here. Here’s the supper for the darlings, ready laid in the room behind the folding-doors. Here’s their little pickled salmon, I do declare! And here’s their little salad, and their little roast beef and fowls, and their little pastry, and their wee, wee, wee champagne!’ ‘Yes, I thought it best, ma’am,’ said Mrs. Alicumpaine, ‘that they should have their supper by themselves. Our table is in the corner here, where the gentlemen can have their wineglass of negus, and their egg-sandwich, and their quiet game at beggar-my-neighbour, and look on. As for us, ma’am, we shall have quite enough to do to manage the company.’ ‘O, indeed, you may say so! Quite enough, ma’am,’ said Mrs. Orange.