"There will be about seventeen, with
their wives, you know."
"Seventeen, wives and all?" said Joanna. "You'll have to get
the carpenter or Mr. Stilton to make you a table."
"Yes, that's easy," said Daisy; "but Joanna, what shall we
have on it? There will want to be a good deal, for seventeen
people; and I want it handsome, you know."
"Of course," said Joanna, looking as if she were casting up
the multiplication table — "it'll have to be that, whatever
else it, is. Miss Daisy, suppose you let me manage it — and
I'll see and have it all right. If you will give orders about
the strawberries, and have the table made."
"I shall dress the table with flowers, Joanna."
"Yes — well —" — said Joanna, — "I don't know anything about
flowers; but I'll have the cake ready, and everything else."
"And tea and coffee, Joanna?"
"Why, I never thought of that! — yes, to be sure, they'll want
something to drink — who will pour it out, Miss Daisy?"
"I don't know. Won't you, Joanna?"
"Well — I don't know —" said the housekeeper, as if she were
afraid of being taken on too fast by her little counsellor —
"I don't know as there's anything to hinder, as it's your
birthday, Miss Daisy.
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