Chapter VI.
Duties of my Lady's Own Woman.
Mrs. Gatty was circumspect not to occupy my Father's Arm-Chair this Evening, whether he came to claim it or no. When the Tea-Things were set, I stept up to Mr. Fenwick to let him know we were ready.
"So soon?" said he, looking up from his Book; "why, do you want me to read to you before Tea?"
"We hope you will oblige us with your Company to Tea, Sir," said I.
"Nay then," said he, in high Good-Humour, "I'll join you directly." And closing his Book with Alacrity, he followed me down Stairs.
We had made no Difference, to call Difference, for him this Evening. He took us as he found us; and chatted away on this and that, as much one of ourselves as if he had not a Word of Latin or Greek in his Head. Once or twice I tried to lead to Something I thought he would have liked better,—Something on which he could have harangued while it would have behoved us to listen; but he darted away from it directly, and would keep down to the Level of his Company, without seeming to mind it.
After Tea, we all took out our Work, and my Mother began to snip a Fly-catcher.
"Oh, now you expect me to read, I suppose," said he; but still delayed, to chat and laugh about this and the other Trifle with Prudence and Gatty, till at last, a sudden Pause occurring, he had no Excuse for idling any longer.