Allen said ladies overdid everything, and that Mother Carey
could not help being one of the sex, and then he asked her for ?10,
and said Babie would have plenty of time to copy out "The Single
Eye." She pouted "I thought you were going to put the finishing
touches."
"I've marked them for you. Why, Barbara, I am surprised," he added
in an elder brotherly tone; "you ought to be thankful to be able to
be useful."
"Useful! I've lots of things to do! And you?"
"As if I could lug that great MS. of yours about with me on board
Apthorpe's yacht."
"Never mind, Allen," said his mother, who had not been intended to
hear all this. "I will do it for you; but Miss Editor must not laugh
at my peaked governessy hand."
"I did not mean that, mother, only Babie ought not to be
disobliging."
"Babie has a good deal to do. She has an essay to write for her
professor, you know, and her hands are pretty full."
Babie too said, "Mother, I never meant you to undertake it. Please
let me have it now. Only Allen will never do anything for himself
that he can get any one else to do."
"He could not well do it on board the yacht, my dear. And I don't
want you to have so much writing on your hands.'
"And so you punish me," sighed Barbara, more annoyed than penitent.
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