Mary,
child, don't cross your ankles; you don't see your cousin do that.
Kate, you go and see what makes Betsy so long in bringing the tea.
I rang long ago."
"I will go and fetch it," said Mary, an honest, but harassed-looking
girl.
"Always in haste," said Miss Gould, with an effort at good humour,
which Miss Ogilvie direfully mistrusted. "No, Mary, you must remain
to entertain your cousin. What are servants for but to wait on us?
She thinks nothing can be done without her, Miss Ogilvie, and I am
forced to act repression sometimes."
"Indeed we do not wish for any tea," said Miss Ogilvie, seeing Elvira
look as black as thunder; "we have only just dined."
"But Elfie will have some sweet-cake; Elfie likes auntie's sweet-
cake, eh?" said the old man.
"No, thank you," said Elfie, glumly, though in fact she did care
considerably for sweets, and was always buying bonbons.
"No cake! Or some strawberries-—strawberries and cream," said her
grandfather. "Mr. Allen always liked them. And where is Mr. Allen
now, my dear?"
"Gone to Norway. It's the fifth time I've told him so," muttered
Elvira.
"And where is Mr. Robert? And Mr. Lucas?" he went on. "Fine young
gentlemen all of them; but Mr. Allen is the pleasant-spoken one.
Ain't he coming down soon? He always looks in and says, 'I don't
forget your good cider, Mr.
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