“More simple life, but you don’t have to do it. Still, berries never taste so luscious as when eaten from the hand.”
I held the bowl solemnly before them, they removed their gloves, ate dainty mouthfuls of berries, and their delight in the flavour was very real.
“Oh, I wish that it were possible to do this at home.”
I bowed. “It needs only for Mrs. Guernsea to do it to make it possible everywhere.”
While they were eating Minerva and James came out, and if Minerva was not the best looking woman there, James was the best looking man—by all odds. I was proud of their appearance.
I was a little afraid that the Guernseas would show a certain amount of hauteur, but they were evidently trying to enter into the simple life, and would obey all its rules for the nonce. It was a break in their sadly monotonous lives.
“Minerva and James, these are Mrs. Guernsea and her daughter, Miss Guernsea, and they wish you to sing some of your songs.”
Both Mrs. Guernsea and the daughter smiled very seriously, and I helped them to alight from the carriage.
They took their stand on the green sward, and as I would not have felt comfortable to remain seated with them standing, I left my seat, and so Ethel was the only one who had a seat at the concert.
After a little self conscious giggling on Minerva’s part, a giggling that James reprimanded with native dignity, the pair began “Steal Away.”