The casual, unimportant talk of ordinary occasions went on after the interruption.
“And what do you hear from that charming friend of yours, the abbé, Gerald?” And, “I hope you have good news from your son, Mrs. Foss.” And, “Do you know whether the Seymours have come back from the country?”
Gerald left the Fosses, warmed by his renewed sense of their friendship, and believing that he would go very soon again to see them. But he did not, and his feeling of shame was more definite than his gratitude when he in time received a note from Mrs. Foss, kind as ever, asking him to dine.
34CHAPTER III
There was dancing at the Fosses’ on two Fridays in the month. It was their contribution toward the gaiety of the winter. They did not often give a formal dinner, and when such an entertainment appeared to be called for from them, planned it with forethought to make it serve as many ends as it would. Every careful housewife will understand.
It was with Leslie that Mrs. Foss talked such matters over. The eldest daughter was so sufficient as adjutant that one did not inquire whether Brenda would have been useful if needed. The latter took no part in the domestic councils which had for object to decide who should be asked to dinner and of what the dinner should consist.
The question whom to invite to meet Professor Longstreet had taken Mrs. Foss and Leslie time and reflection. The Fosses’ only son had a great regard for this man, one of the faculty during his period at Harvard, and now that the travels of the professor’s sabbatical year brought him to Florence, the family was anxious to entertain him as dear John, studying medicine in far-off Boston, would have wished.
The professor was engaged upon a new translation of the “Divine Comedy.” The guests had therefore better be chosen among their literary acquaintance, thought Mrs. Foss. But Leslie was of the opinion that they would do better to make the requisite just any gift or grace, and 35keep an eye on having the company compose well and the table look beautiful.
When she reminded her mother that a dinner was owing the Balm de Brézés, and that this would be a chance to pay the debt, Mrs. Foss objected: