time that Charley was watching me and making signs about me to his
brother, when in reality he was only telegraphing about the marmalade.
In the meantime, without any attention to my feelings, the business of
the tea-table proceeded. Mrs. Hollenbeck poured out tea, and kept the
little boys under a moderate control. Kilian cut up some birds before
him, and tried to persuade the young ladies to eat some, but nobody had
appetite enough but Mr. Whitney and himself. Charlotte Benson, who was
clever and efficient and exceedingly at home, cut up a cake that was
before her, and gave the boys some strawberries, and offered some to me.
Miss Palmer simply looked very handsome, and eat a biscuit or two, and
tried to talk to Mr. Whitney, who seemed to have a good appetite and
very little conversation. Miss Leighton gave herself up to attentions to
Kilian; she was saying silly little things to him in a little low tone
all the time, and offering him different articles before her, and
advising him what he ought to eat; all of which seemed most interesting
and important in dumb-show till you heard what it was all about, and
then you felt ashamed of them. At times, I think, Kilian felt somewhat
ashamed too, and tried to talk a little to the others; but most of the
time he seemed to like it very well, and did not ask anything better
than the excellent woodcock on his plate, and the pretty young woman
by his side.
"By the way," said Sophie, when the meal was nearly over, "I had a
letter from Richard to-day."
"Ah!" said Kilian, with a momentary release from his admirer. "And when
is he coming home?"
I looked up with quick interest, and met Mrs. Hollenbeck's eyes, which
seemed to be always on me. Then I turned mine down the table
uncomfortably, and found Charlotte Benson looking at me too. I did not
know what I had done to be looked at, but wished they would look at
themselves and let me take my tea (or leave it alone) in peace.
"Not for two weeks yet," said his sister; "not for two whole weeks."
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