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VI. All Sorts and Conditions of Men... and women
MywifegotatelegramtodaythathersisterfromMontrealiscomingtonightandshe’sgonetothetraintomeetherandleftordersformetomakeacakefortea.ShewritouttherecipeandtoldmewhattodobutI’vecleanforgothalfthedirectionsalready.Anditsays,‘flavoraccordingtotaste.’Whatdoesthatmean?Howcanyoutell?Andwhatifmytastedoesn’thappentobeotherpeople’staste?Wouldatablespoonofvanillabeenoughforasmalllayercake?”
“Ifeltsorrierthaneverforthepoorman.Hedidn’tseemtobeinhispropersphereatall.IhadheardofhenpeckedhusbandsandnowIfeltthatIsawone.Itwasonmylipstosay,‘Mr.Blair,ifyou’llgiveusasubscriptionforthehallI’llmixupyourcakeforyou.’ButIsuddenlythoughtitwouldn’tbeneighborlytodrivetoosharpabargainwithafellowcreatureindistress.SoIofferedtomixthecakeforhimwithoutanyconditionsatall.Hejustjumpedatmyoffer.Hesaidhe’dbeenusedtomakinghisownbreadbeforehewasmarriedbuthefearedcakewasbeyondhim,andyethehatedtodisappointhiswife.Hegotmeanotherapron,andDianabeattheeggsandImixedthecake.Mr.Blairranaboutandgotusthematerials.HehadforgottenallabouthisapronandwhenheranitstreamedoutbehindhimandDianasaidshethoughtshewoulddietoseeit.Hesaidhecouldbakethecakeallright...hewasusedtothat...andthenheaskedforourlistandheputdownfourdollars.Soyouseewewererewarded.
