Mrs. March laughed , and smoothed down her maternal pride as she asked , `` Well , my swan , what is your plan ? '' `` I should like to ask the girls out to lunch next week , to take them for a drive to the places they want to see , a row on the river , perhaps , and make a little artistic fete for them . '' `` That looks feasible . What do you want for lunch ? Cake , sandwiches , fruit , and coffee will be all that is necessary , I suppose ? '' `` Oh , dear , no ! We must have cold tongue and chicken , French chocolate and ice cream , besides . The girls are used to such things , and I want my lunch to be proper and elegant , though I do work for my living . '' `` How many young ladies are there ? '' asked her mother , beginning to look sober . `` Twelve or fourteen in the class , but I dare say they wo n't all come . '' `` Bless me , child , you will have to charter an omnibus to carry them about . '' `` Why , Mother , how can you think of such a thing ? Not more than six or eight will probably come , so I shall hire a beach wagon and borrow Mr. Laurence 's cherry-bounce . '' -LRB- Hannah 's pronunciation of char-a-banc . -RRB- `` All of this will be expensive , Amy . '' `` Not very . I 've calculated the cost , and I 'll pay for it myself . '' `` Do n't you think , dear , that as these girls are used to such things , and the best we can do will be nothing new , that some simpler plan would be pleasanter to them , as a change if nothing more , and much better for us than buying or borrowing what we do n't need , and attempting a style not in keeping with our circumstances ? '' `` If I ca n't have it as I like , I do n't care to have it at all .
I know that I can carry it out perfectly well , if you and the girls will help a little , and I do n't see why I ca n't if I 'm willing to pay for it , '' said XXXXX , with the decision which opposition was apt to change into obstinacy .
Amy French Hannah Laurence Mother char-a-banc cherry-bounce omnibus row things