Sara's said, "Help me!" Mrs.
Macon's replied, "Watch me!" at which both smiled slyly, and turned to
the next neighbor with some light remark.
Morton and Molly had been so drilled in their deportment before they
came, that each sat now stiff and solemn as martinets awaiting some
command; Morton, eying hopelessly the tiny bouillon-cup before him, with
the healthy appetite of a boy who had not eaten anything since an early
breakfast; while Molly, after a stony rigidity of perhaps two minutes,
suddenly gave a little twist and drew a sigh as long and lugubrious as
the wail of an autumn blast. Professor Macon looked at her with
twinkling eyes.
"Don't be discouraged, Miss Molly," he whispered leaning towards her,
"there is a turkey somewhere, I'm sure, for I had a sniff of it myself
some time ago." Her eyes brightened, and she whispered back in the same
confidential way,--
"You see, I don't like beef-tea very well, and I do love turkey. But, of
course, if it's the thing"--and she submissively took up her spoon,
prepared to attack the decoction.
Sara's cheeks had grown red at this; but when the professor added,--
"Between you and me, Molly, I think it's only fit for sick folks myself;
but I suppose, as the saying is, we must eat by the card;" at which
everybody laughed good-naturedly, her worried feeling wore off, and she
began to think it would not, perhaps, be an unforgivable offence if one
of them did commit a blunder or two.
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