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Page 18
"Loads," replied Romeo, with the air of a plutocrat. "More than we can
spend."
"We get our income the first day of every month," explained Juliet, "and
put it into the bank, but when the next check comes, there's always some
left." They seemed to consider it a mild personal disgrace.
"Why don't you save it?" queried Isabel.
"What for?" Romeo demanded, curiously.
"Why, so you'll have it if you ever need it."
"It keeps right on coming," Juliet explained, pulling down her sweater.
"Uncle died in Australia and left it to us. He died on the thirtieth of
June, and we always celebrate."
"Why don't you celebrate his birthday?" suggested Isabel, "instead of
the day he died?"
"His birthday was no good to us," replied Romeo, "but his death-day
was."
"But if he hadn't been born, he couldn't have died," Isabel objected,
more or less logically.
"And if he hadn't died, his being born wouldn't have helped us any,"
replied Juliet, with a dazzling smile.
There was another pause. "Will you have some tea?" asked Isabel.
"With rum in it?" queried Juliet.
"I don't think so," said Isabel, doubtfully. "Aunt Francesca never
does."
"We don't, either," Romeo explained, "except when it's very cold, and
then only a teaspoonful."
"The doctor said we didn't need stimulants. What was it he said we
needed, Romie?"
"Sedatives."
"Yes, that was it--sedatives. I looked it up in the dictionary. It means
to calm, or to moderate. I think he got the word wrong himself, for we
don't need to be calmed, or moderated, do we, Romie?"
"I should say not!"
The twins sipped their tea in silence and nibbled daintily at wafers
from the cracker jar. Then, feeling that their visit was over, they rose
with one accord.
"We've had a dandy time," said Juliet, crushing Isabel's hand in hers.
"Bully," supplemented Romeo. "Come and see us."
"I will," Isabel responded, weakly. "How do you get there?"
"Just walk up the main road and turn to the left. It's about three
miles."
"Three miles!" gasped Isabel. "I'll drive out."
"Just so you come," Romeo said, graciously. "It's an awful old place.
You'll know it by the chimney being blown over and some of the bricks
lying on the roof. Good-bye."
Juliet turned to wave her hand at Isabel as they banged the gate, and
Romeo awkwardly doffed his cap. Their hostess went up-stairs with a sigh
of relief. She had the sensation of having quickly closed a window upon
a brisk March wind.
The twins set their faces toward home. The three-mile walk was nothing
to them, even after a day of skating. The frosty air nipped Juliet's
cheeks to crimson and she sniffed at it with keen delight.
"It's nice to be out," she said, "after being in that hot house. What do
you think of her, Romie?"
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