It was an easy-going meal,
lasting long, and haunted by many acquaintances, for whose sake the
table was always at its full length, and spread with varieties of
delicacies that would endure waiting.
People dropped in, helped themselves, ate and drank, and then
adjourned to Popinjay Parlour, where the afternoon was spent in an
easy-going, loitering way, more like a foreign than an English
Sunday. Miss Ogilvie used to go to the Litany at one of the Churches
near; Armine always came with her, and often brought Babie, and
Jessie came too, as soon as that good girl had swallowed the fact
that the Litany could stand alone.
Janet was apt to be walking with Nita, or else in some eager and
amusing conversation in the conservatory; and as to Elvira, she was
the prettiest, most amusing plaything that Mrs. Brownlow's house
afforded, a great favourite, and a continual study to the artist
friends. Mary used to find her chattering, coquetting, and romping
on coming in to the afternoon tea, which she would fain have herself
missed; but that her absence gave pain, and as much offence as one so
kind as Mrs. Brownlow could take.
Carey argued that most of her guests were people who seldom had
leisure to enjoy rest, conversation, and variety of pretty things,
and that it would be mere Puritan crabbedness to deny them the
pleasures of Popinjay Parlour on the only day they could be happy
there.
Pages:
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338