And they had
a coffee-set, too" "You mean where our father and mother
bought them. We were not born," said Elizabeth Eliza.
"It is all the same," said Solomon John. "They match exactly."
So they did, and more and more came in.
Elizabeth Eliza exclaimed:
"And Agamemnon says we are not a family for emergencies!"
"Ann Maria was very good about it," said Solomon John; "and
quick, too. And old Mrs. Bromwick has kept all her set of two
dozen coffee and tea cups!"
Elizabeth Eliza was ready to faint with delight and relief. She told
the Gibbons boys, by mistake, instead of Agamemnon, and the
little boys. She almost let fall the cups and saucers she took in her
hand.
"No trouble now!"
She thought of the cow, and she thought of the pig, and she poured
on.
No trouble, except about the chairs. She looked into the room; all
seemed to be sitting down, even her mother. No, her father was
standing, talking to Mr.
Jeffers. But he was drinking coffee, and the Gibbons boys were
handing things around.
The daughters of the lady from Philadelphia were sitting on shawls
on the edge of the window that opened upon the piazza. It was a
soft, warm evening, and some of the young people were on the
piazza. Everybody was talking and laughing, except those who
were listening.
Mr. Peterkin broke away, to bring back his cup and another for
more coffee.
"It's a great success, Elizabeth Eliza," he whispered.
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