He goes on to say how to prepare some toast, so-and-so,
some milk and butter, or cream, so-and-so, put this and that in it, then
you dish it up and call it--oh! I can't say _what_ he calls it; but, if you
will believe me, it is just 'cream toast,' and nothing else, disguised
under a high-sounding name to deceive innocent people, and make them
believe they are eating something very high-toned. Just a little more tea,
papa. But I am up to their tricks and I'll not palm off any old-fashioned
dishes on you, under a Frenchified name," and she chatted on, helping him
and preparing what was before him, till she had beguiled him into making
quite a hearty meal.
That evening Mr. Traverse made his appearance as usual, bringing with him a
pretty basket of fruit, and his inquiries after Mr. Sherwood's health were
made so earnestly that Dexie felt sure he could not have been in during the
afternoon; someone else must have left the papers.
As may be supposed, Traverse was in excellent humor. He seemed bubbling
over with good-natured fun, and even Dexie thawed out sufficiently to
answer his repartees less caustically than usual.
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