Meanwhile Helen was assisting Mrs. Lennox to don her grandest attire in honor of her titled guests, and not having to masquerade just then, Helen and the eccentric old lady were becoming fast friends.
CHAPTER XV
HILARIOUS HOSPITALITY
THE dinner-table was a surprise even to Mrs. Lennox. Although her own table appointments were fastidiously correct, they had been supplemented by Jessie’s exquisite arrangement of flowers, and by dainty dinner-cards which Millicent had that morning painted in water-color.
The two “white-winged angels,” as the immaculate waitresses called each other, stood like marble statues while the guests entered the dining-room.
This brought Lady Pendered’s lorgnon again into requisition, and she scanned Betty and Jessie until, as they afterward declared, they felt like waxworks at the Eden Musée.
Then the fun began. The two waitresses, intent on doing their best, were so careful and thoughtful that Mrs. Lennox grew more and more dignified and important, as befitted the mistress of such a fine establishment.
Hester and Marjorie sent in most deliciously cooked dishes, which were faultlessly served by the expert waitresses.
Lady Pendered expatiated on the extreme delicacy of her daughter’s constitution, and averred that the Lady Lucy had absolutely no appetite and ate literally nothing.
This moved the apparently oblivious Betty to offer Lady Lucy braised sweet-breads for the second time, and as the fragile one helped herself bountifully, Jessie again urged upon her the stuffed cucumbers, of which she again partook.