eatest number of women there could
have been? The price per pound in every case must be such as could be
paid in current money.

19.--THE NEW YEAR'S EVE SUPPERS.

The proprietor of a small London cafe has given me some interesting
figures. He says that the ladies who come alone to his place for
refreshment spend each on an average eighteenpence, that the
unaccompanied men spend half a crown each, and that when a gentleman
brings in a lady he spends half a guinea. On New Year's Eve he supplied
suppers to twenty-five persons, and took five pounds in all. Now,
assuming his averages to have held good in every case, how was his
company made up on that occasion? Of course, only single gentlemen,
single ladies, and pairs (a lady and gentleman) can be supposed to have
been present, as we are not considering larger parties.

20.--BEEF AND SAUSAGES.

"A neighbour of mine," said Aunt Jane, "bought a certain quantity of
beef at two shillings a pound, and the same quantity of sausages at
eighteenpence a pound. I pointed out to her that if she had divided the
same money equally between beef and sausages she would have gained two
pounds in the total weight. Can you tell me exactly how much she spent?"

"Of course, it is no business of mine," said Mrs. Sunniborne; "but a
lady who could pay such prices must be somewhat inexperienced in
domestic economy."

"I quite agree, my dear," Aunt Jane replied, "but you see that is not
the precise point under discussion, any more than the name and morals of
the tradesman."

21.--A DEAL IN APPLES.

I paid a man a shilling for some apples, but they were so small that I
made him throw in two extra apples. I find that made them cost just a
penny a dozen less than the first price he asked. How many apples did I
get for my shilling?

22.--A DEAL IN EGGS.

A man went recently into a dairyman's shop to buy eggs. He wanted them
of various qualities. The salesman had new-laid eggs at the high price
of fivepence each, fresh eggs at one penny each, eggs at a halfpenny
each, and eggs for electioneering purposes at a greatly reduced figure,
but as there was no election on at the time the buyer had no use for the
last. However, he bought some of each of the three other kinds and
obtained exactly one hundred eggs for eight and fourpence. Now, as he
brought away exactly the same number of eggs of two of the three
qualities, it is an interesting puzzle to determine just how many he
bought at ea