"Let Essie bring you another cup," suggested Mr. Symes.
"Oh, no! not at all; I take sweetenin' in everything," declared Mr. Rhodes.
There was a distinct relaxation of tension all around when Andy P. Symes took the initiative in the matter of spoons.
"This here soup makes me think of the time I had mountain fever and et it stiddy for three weeks." Adolph Kunkel whispered the reminiscence behind the back of his hand.
"My real favorite is bean soup," admitted Mr. Terriberry, and Mrs. Terriberry looked mortified at this confession of her husband's vulgar preferences.
"It's very nourishing," declared Mrs. Starr tremulously.
"And delicious, too, when properly served." Mrs. Percy Parrott curled her little finger elegantly and toyed with a spoon.
"It's a pretty good article in camp," said Mr. Symes desperately to keep the ball rolling.
The guests shrieked with mirthless laughter at the suggestion of rough camp life.
"Gosh! me and Gus was weaned and raised on bean soup—and liverwurst," interjected Adolph Kunkel in the lull which followed, and immediately squirmed under Mrs. Symes's blazing eyes. "Of course," he added lamely, "we et other things, too—mush and headcheese."