"Three cups of tea and some thin bread and butter at four o'clock," said Mrs. Aylmer the great, in an icy tone of command.
The waiter said, "Yes, ma'am," bowed, and withdrew.
Mrs. Aylmer the less thought of the hearty tea she and Florence would make at home, the shrimps and the brown bread and butter, and the honey and the strong tea with a little cream to flavor it; nevertheless, her beady black eyes were fixed on her sister-in-law now with a look which almost signified adoration.
"Don't stare so much, Mabel," said Mrs. Aylmer; "you have not lost that unpleasant habit; you always had it from the time I first knew you, and I see your daughter has inherited it. Now then, Florence, to business."
"Yes, aunt, to business," replied Florence, very brusquely.
Mrs. Aylmer stared at her niece.
"You speak in a very free-and-easy way," she said, "considering your circumstances."
Florence colored angrily.
"My circumstances," she answered; "I don't quite understand."
"Has not your mother told you about my, alas! unavoidable change of plans?"