The hapless Maria declined gooseberry fool proffered by the respectful Alice.
“Don’t seem to be eating, Mother,” said his worship. “Aren’t you well? I expect it’s the weather.”
Maria thought it must be the weather; at any rate it could be nothing else.
“Want a bit more air, I think,” said Josiah in the midst of a royal helping of a favorite delicacy. “Just roll back those sunblinds, Alice, and let in a bit o’ daylight.”
The sphinx-like Alice carried out the order.
“And open the doors a bit wider.”
Alice impassively obeyed.
“Would you like a nip of brandy? The weather, I suppose. Very hot to-day. Temperature nearly a hundred this morning in the Council Chamber. We’ll have some new ventilators put in there or I’ll know the reason. At the best of times there’s a great deal too much hot air in the Council Chamber. And when you get a hot summer on the top of it...! Alice, go and get some brandy for the Mistress.”
Exit Alice.