"Tell me, Gerty. Is Paul kind to you, and considerate of your wants?"
Her eyes fell beneath his; and there was such a pained expression on her once happy face he needed no other answer.
A little tingle of the table bell announced that dinner was ready; and almost immediately after Marion appeared smiling and blushing at the singular position in which she found herself placed.
"This is my brother, Marion," Gertrude said with a bright smile, "I've been telling him all about my new sister."
"Will you try to come to the table, darling?" whispered the visitor; "or shall I bring you a piece of steak here?"
"Oh, I will go! Edward will give me his arm."
Marion rolled an easy chair to the table; called Bridget to bring a cricket, and without a word seated herself at the head of the table opposite a steaming dish of potatoes, mashed and browned in the form of a pineapple. She waited one moment hoping Mr. Wallingford would offer to say grace; but as he did not, she bowed her head one instant and then with a smile, commenced her self-imposed duty of waiting on the others.
Bridget, who had been privately instructed, stood behind her chair waiting to carry the plates.
On the handsome side board was a dish of jelly and a silver basket filled with different kinds of cake, with Gertrude's pretty service of silver, exciting suspicion that coffee would be forthcoming in due time. The young wife colored with delight as she saw what a nice repast was in readiness for her brother, and could not forbear saying:
"Edward, you must thank my new sister for your dinner. I am a very poor housekeeper."