Page:Baum--Tamawaca folks.djvu/176

170 dear," said Mrs. McCoy to the hostess, in a solicitous tone.

"Never mind," returned the little lady, cheerfully; "I ain't hungry, so I guess I can wait till breakfast."

Mrs. Purspyre choked on the puffy cracknel and was saved to the world by a glass of water. Mrs. Herringford thoughtfully brought water for them all.

"You'll find it nice and fresh," she said, with pardonable pride, as she poured the precious fluid with a lavish hand.

"Then it's different from this ginger-snap," remarked Mr. Wogie, nursing a jarred tooth.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" announced Mr. Sherlock, getting upon his feet and waving one arm. "Let us thank Mrs. Herringford for her kind entertainment, which will be a red letter event in our calendar of glorious memories. This dissipation is unusual with us all, but I hope in no case