“Oor tea-meetin’s have a purpose,” said Mr Mactavish, severely; “they are a feature in oor method o’ educatin’ and civilisin’ the natives.”
“In Scotland they’re talkin’ o’ suppressin’ tea-meetin’s by statute,” said Allister, with a look at Jeanie, “they gie such occasions for ungodly gossip amang the weemen.”
“Oor tea’s flavoured wi’ the sugar o’ Christian charity and the milk o’ human kindness,” retorted Mr Mactavish, sternly.
Just then the door again opened and Mr Campbell, the Principal, entered. He was a big, red-bearded man with bushy eyebrows. Jeanie very prettily introduced the strangers to him, and he soon was deep in conversation with Allister, who knew several of his friends in Scotland.
Benson crossed the room and took a low seat close to Jeanie. Mr Mactavish evidently regarded this proceeding with disapproval, for he turned his chair slightly, so as to get the girl and her companion out of the range of his vision, and took an apparently absorbing interest in the conversation of the others.
“You are a Colonist, are you not?” asked the girl.
“Yes,” replied Benson, “I hope you don’t object.”
“Object? I should think not. Good gracious! If they had sent two more Scotsmen here I should have run away and become an hospital nurse or a...”
“Were you going to say ‘barmaid’?” asked Benson, sinking his voice.
“How—how did you know?” gasped the girl.