This was the supper hour, and supper was ready upon the table.
A single glance was sufficient to show that Mr. Drummond was not a man to indulge in luxurious living. There was a plate of white bread, cut in thin slices, a small plate of butter, half a pie, and a plate of cake. A small pitcher of milk, a bowl of coarse brown sugar, and a pot of the cheapest kind of tea completed the preparations for the evening meal. Certainly there was nothing extravagant about these preparations; but Mr. Drummond thought otherwise. His attention was at once drawn to the cake, and instantly a frown gathered upon his face.
"Are we going to have company to-night, Mrs. Drummond?" he asked.
"Not that I know of," answered his wife, in some surprise.
"Then why is it that you have put both pie and cake on the table?"
"There was only half a pie, Mr. Drummond," said she, nervously.
"Well, there are but three of us. You can get three good-sized pieces from half a pie. That will be one for each of us. What would you have more?"
"The cake is a cheap kind."
"No cake is cheap, Mrs. Drummond. I take it you used eggs, butter, and sugar in making it."