pite its superlative value as a custard which she very well knew, it
really was not fit to be offered to a guest: it might do for just the
family. Timothy ate as many as three meals every week of his life in
this very dining-room, but not being a member of the immediate home
circle, he came quite under the head of guests.

At the other end of the table Miss Letitia carved the beautifully pink
old ham into paper thin slices. She was still visibly nervous and her
hands trembled a bit, every now and then (that storm had been a
terrible experience); but such was habit with Miss Letitia that not a
single slice was a bit ragged or a sliver too thick.

Arethusa had paid Miss Letitia a visit just before supper to make her
peace, and Miss Letitia had forgiven her, as she always did. And even
had she suffered far more on the girl's account than she actually had,
who could have resisted such pleading to be forgiven? Contrition had
been so plainly visible in those grey-green eyes, and Arethusa had
given so many kisses--soft and fleeting as thistledown they were, yet
very satisfactory to Miss Letitia as kisses--that it was quite
impossible for Miss Letitia not to believe in the perfect genuineness
of Arethusa's apology.

She had promised fervently, "Never, so long as I live, to run out in a
storm--ever again. Hope I may die right in my tracks if I do!"

While Miss Letitia had deprecated the latter part of that promise as
savoring slightly of sacrilege, she had accepted the first part in good
faith; and experience should have taught her otherwise.

Miss Asenath had one whole side of the table to herself, her couch took
up so much room. It was Blish's duty, generally, to wheel the couch
across the hall from the sitting-room, but whenever Timothy stayed to
meals, he took this office upon himself. And he took it with a
gallantry and old-fashioned deference that brought a faint pink flush
to Miss Asenath's soft old cheek. Timothy was a great favorite of hers.

He and Arethusa sat together on the other side; but Arethusa ignored
him just as much as possible. Timothy took special delight in moving
such dishes of eatables as were nearest him too far away from his
neighbor for her to reach herself, so that she would be forced to ask
him for them. She might have eaten her supper, and managed very well,
without any of this food that Timothy had commandeered, had not one of
those dishes been the plate of biscuit, an absolute necessity.