“Thou knowest best what is right, William;” and was satisfied to rest on his wisdom.
Mollie was utterly oblivious to the ordeal in store for her on this particular evening. She was more witchy and poked more lively sallies at Barclugh during the dinner than she ever had before on any one occasion, but Barclugh blushed and took the pleasantries good-naturedly. Yet Mollie noticed that she was doing most of the talking, and wondered to herself why everybody was so sober and she so lively. Nevertheless, her buoyancy of spirits could not be downed and she continued her play of wit and humor throughout the dinner.
When the dinner was finished, Mollie said:
“I have the prettiest ode of Horace that I was translating before dinner, and I must have papa and mamma and you, Mr. Barclugh, come to the library and I will read it to you.”
So Barclugh offered Mollie his arm, and Dr. Greydon his to his wife, and the four went up the great staircase to the library.
Mollie went to the book-shelves, while the others seated themselves on the carved oak settles, facing each other before the great fireplace. Mollie took the edition of Horace and seated herself at the head of the large library table and began to read:
INTACTIS OPULENTIOR
“Though India’s virgin mine,
And wealth of Araby be thine;
Though thy wave-circled palaces