While there was no emphasis to suggest that the sentence contained any
special significance, yet each of the ladies was conscious of an
uncomfortable warmth, and the wish that dinner would be announced was
so unanimous that their heads turned simultaneously towards the dining
room; and, quite as if the concentrated thought had produced the result,
the proprietor of the Prouty House conveyed the information to Sudds in
a whisper from the corner of his mouth that all was in readiness.

After some embarrassed uncertainty as to who was to conduct whom, and
which arm should be used, the guests filed into the dining room at an
hour when, commonly, they were preparing to retire.

In the confusion Mrs. Toomey found the opportunity to say:

"Jap, our goose is cooked!"

Adversity had sharpened her intuitions, developed her sensibilities;
what others might fear, she knew, and this commonplace held all her
disappointment, all the chagrin and hopelessness that in an instant had
dissipated the roseate dreams she had again dared to entertain.

Toomey was too dazed to reply. What did it mean, he was asking himself
in bewilderment as he found the seat at the table which had been
assigned him. When he had disparaged and insulted Kate, why had Prentiss
not resented it verbally, knocked him down? Why had he made a secret of
their relationship?

Notwithstanding Gov'nor Sudds's best efforts, ably supported by Mr.
Scales and Hiram Butefish, the banquet did not promise to be an
unqualified success. There was a tension which did not make for a proper
appreciation of the excellently prepared food. In truth, nobody was
entirely at his ease save Prentiss and Kate--and Abram Pantin. The
complacency of the cat who has eaten the canary was discontent beside
the satisfaction upon Mr. Pantin's face as he sent triumphant glances at
his wife. It was well towards the end of the banquet that the belated
train whistled and Mr. Teeters excused himself--first reaching for a
stalk of celery which he ate as he went, and looking, as Mr. Butefish
observed to fill a pause, "like a pig with a corn husk hanging out of
its mouth."

When the several courses had passed in review, the tension increased
with the realization that the moment which meant so much to everyone
present had arrived at last.

So many times they had allowed themselves to hope only to know
disappointment. But Prentiss inspired a confidence they never had had in
the prospective investors