Nathan admitted the impeachment.
“Well,” said Sidney, “we can’t beat that in Boston.”
And Nathan ate vigorously to hide his embarrassment. The girls flitted about seeing everyone was supplied. Did calm-eyed Vashti know what she did, when she bent over between Sidney and her father ostensibly to remove an empty plate, and let her palm rest as if by chance for a moment on Sidney’s shoulder? Did ever electricity shoot and tingle through the veins like that touch? He watched her as she passed serenely along the other side of the table, and longed for the moment when he might have speech with her.
Temperance poured the tea and coffee in the back kitchen. Sally performed prodigies in carrying it to the table, and grimacing, as she set it down, behind the unconscious backs of the recipients.
Sidney won golden opinions at this dinner by his frank friendliness.
“He ain’t big feelin’, that’s one thing,” the men said to one another as they swaggered out to rest the noon-spell under the trees.
Lanty and Sidney with great affectation of helpfulness asked the girls to stand aside and watch them clear the table. Temperance was not to be seen, they would surprise her when she arrived. They succeeded beyond their expectations.
“It isn’t such a job to clear a table as you’d think,” said Sidney complacently to Lanty.
“No, ’tain’t for a fact. I’ve seen girls take half an hour at it.”