Courtship -- Fiction; Florida -- Fiction; Humorous stories; New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction; Treasure troves -- Fiction
"Sightseeing always gives me a headache," says she. "And in the
Canadian Rockies we nearly froze. I was glad to see New York again.
But one tires of hotel life. Thank goodness, our house is ready at
last. We moved in a week ago."
"Oh!" says Vee. "Then you're housekeeping?"
Doris nods. "It's quite thrilling," says she. "At ten-thirty every
morning I have the butler bring me Cook's list. Then I 'phone for the
things myself. That is, I've just begun. Let me see, didn't I put in
to-day's order in my--yes, here it is." And she fishes a piece of
paper out of a platinum mesh bag. "Think of our needing all that--just
Harold and me," she goes on.
"I should say so," says Vee, startin' to read over the items. "'Sugar,
two pounds; tea, two pounds--'"
"Cook leaves the amounts to me," explains Doris; "so I just order two
pounds of everything."
"Oh!" says Vee, readin' on. "'Butter, two pounds; eggs, two--' Do
they sell eggs that way, Doris?"
"Don't they?" asks Doris. "I'm sure I don't know."
"'Coffee, two pounds,'" continues Vee. "'Yeast cakes, two pounds--'
Why, wouldn't that be a lot of yeast cakes? They're such little
things!"
"Perhaps," says Doris. "But then, I sha'n't have to bother ordering
any more for a month, you see. Now, take the next item. 'Champagne
wafers, ten pounds.' I'm fond of those. But that is the only time I
broke my rule. See--'flour, two pounds; roast beef, two pounds,' and
so on. Oh, I mean to be quite systematic in my housekeeping!"
"Isn't she a wonder?" asks Westy, gazin' at her proud and mushy.
"I say, though, Vee," goes on Doris enthusiastic, "you must come home
with us for dinner to-night. Do!"
At which Westy nudges her and whispers something behind his hand.
"Oh, yes," adds Doris. "You too, Torchy."
Vee had to 'phone Auntie and get Doris to back her up before the
special dispensation was granted; but at six-thirty the four of us
starts uptown for this brownstone bird-cage of happiness that Westy has
taken a five-year lease of.
"Just think!" says Vee, as we unloads from the taxi. "You with a house
of your own, and managing servants, and--"
"Oh!" remarks Doris, as she pushes the button. "I do hope you won't
mind Cyril."
"Mind who?" says Vee.
"He--he's our butler," explains Westy. "I suppose he's a very good
butler, too--the man at the employment agency said he was; but--er--"
"I'm sure he is," puts in Doris, "even if he does look a little odd.
Then there is his name--Cyril Snee. Of course, Cyril doesn't sound
just right for a butler, does it? But Snee is so--so--"
"Isn't it?" says Vee. "I should call him Cyril."
"We started in that way," says Doris, "but he asked us not to; said he
preferred to be called Snee. It was unusual, and besides he had
private reasons. So between ourselves we speak of him as Cyril, and to
his face-- Well, I suppose we shall get used to saying Snee, though--
Why, where can he be? I've rung twice and-- Oh, here he comes!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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