"Are you coming?" he asked; "they will be beginning the business without us."
"I'm coming," replied my uncle.
And without looking at me, he took up his hat and cane and hurried out.
The next moment all my hopes had vanished. My uncle would surely not forgive me.
At dinner-time I took my place at table on his right hand in low spirits, ate little, and said nothing.
"It will come with the dessert," I thought.
Rose looked at me, and I avoided meeting her eyes. As I had expected, the dessert over, my uncle lit his pipe, raised his head, and then—
"Rose—come here!"
Rose went to him.
"Do you know what that fellow there asked me to do, yesterday?"