So,
if you value your friend Eugenia's feelings, you had better wait
until to-morrow."
"_Suds_, Howard! What do you mean?" asked the indignant Ella.
"Eugenia Deane's hands never saw a wash-tub! Why, they are almost
as white as mine." And the little lady glanced rather admiringly
at the small snowy fingers, which handled so gracefully the heavy
knife and fork of silver.
"You have my permission to go," said Mr. Hastings, "but I am
inclined to think you'll have to wait a long time for your friends
to make their appearance."
Mentally resolving not to tell him if she did, Ella ran up to her
room, where, leaving her morning dress in the middle of the floor,
and donning a handsome plaid silk, she descended again to the
parlor, and suggested to her husband the propriety of bringing the
young ladies home with her to dinner, alleging, as one reason,
that "there was no use of having a silver dining set and nice
things, unless there was somebody to see them."
"And am not _I_ somebody?" asked Mr. Hastings, playfully
winding his arm around the little creature, who answered, "Why,
yes--but mama never thought it worth her while always to have
_the best things_ and fix up when there was no one to dinner
but us and father; and I don't think I need to be so particular as
when I was Ella Grey and you were Mr.
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