"Well, of all the idle creatures!" she exclaimed. "Loafing
here in the sand"--she gave a sniff--"and smoking--"
"My dear," began the Cave-man.
"Don't you my-dear me!" she answered. "Look at this place!
Nothing tidied up yet and the day half through! Did you
put the alligator on to boil?"
"I was just going to say--" began the Cave-man.
"_Going_ to say! Yes, I don't doubt you were going to
say. You'd go on saying all day if I'd let you. What I'm
asking you is, is the alligator on to boil for dinner or
is it not--My gracious!" She broke off all of a sudden,
as she caught sight of me. "Why didn't you say there was
company? Land sakes! And you sit there and never say
there was a gentleman here!"
She had hustled across the cave and was busily arranging
her hair with a pool of water as a mirror.
"Gracious!" she said, "I'm a perfect fright! You must
excuse me," she added, looking round toward me, "for
being in this state. I'd just slipped on this old fur
blouse and run around to a neighbour's and I'd no idea
that he was going to bring in company. Just like him!
I'm afraid we've nothing but a plain alligator stew to
offer you, but I'm sure if you'll stay to dinner--"
She was hustling about already, good primitive housewife
that she was, making the stone-plates rattle on the mud
table.
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