The cup of coffee after lunch was the most fragrant she had ever tasted.
“If I could only make such coffee as that father wouldn’t grumble as he does at his after-dinner cup,” she said.
“The still-room maid always uses freshly roasted coffee,” said Lady Hartley. “I believe that is the only secret of success.”
She felt in the next moment how foolish it was to talk of still-room maids to this girl, whose household consisted of two faithful drudges, and who no doubt had to do a good deal of housework herself.
Miss Marchant had enough savoir faire to depart very soon after luncheon. She only lingered long enough to look at the flowers which Mrs. Vansittart showed her, during which brief inspection the elder lady spoke to her very kindly.
“You are the head of the family, I am told,” she said. “Isn’t that rather an onerous position for one so young?”
“I was twenty-one last November, and I begin to feel quite old,” answered Eve; “and then our family is not a difficult one to manage. My sisters are very good, and accommodate themselves to circumstances. We live very simply. We have none of those difficulties with servants which I hear rich people talk about.”
“You and your sisters look wonderfully well and happy,” said Mrs. Vansittart, interested in spite of herself.
“Yes, I think we are as happy as people can be in a world where everybody must have a certain amount of trouble,” Eve answered, with the faintest sigh. “We are very fond of each other, and we have great fun out of trifles. We contrive to be merry at very little cost. Peggy and Hetty are very amusing. Oh, how they have eaten to-day! It will be a long time before they forget Lady Hartley’s banquet.”
“It does children good to go out now and then. They must come again very soon. I know my daughter will like to have them; but my son and I are going home almost immediately.”