Constance Smedley and Pearl Humphrey

“ She knew her aunt's wine appealed to the masculine palate. She may have expressed something of mingled hope and fear in her face, for no one took a second glass, in spite of her remark that Emily could fetch another bottle if they liked. Nelly's mind became fairly peaceful. The cold fruit-tart disappeared with a rapidity remarkable in contrast to the leisurely vanishing of the pork. But the black coffee, which she had in an undertone requested the surly Emily to make, was so vile that Nelly herself said: “Don't try to drink it!” ”

“ Nelly glanced round the table. The men were manfully plodding through theirs, but all the women were more or less playing with it, and were confining themselves to bread and the potatoes, which were fortunately cooked as only dishes meant for kitchen consumption are usually cooked. A fitful silence prevailed, broken only by polite voices referring to the ruins they had seen, or the pretty country. Mrs. Gerney saw Nelly's eyes fill with tears of vexation and embarrassment, and she gripped her knife and fork with the air of a grenadier. ”

“ Mrs. Gerney, an old friend of Mrs. Martin, but very slightly known to Nelly, explained that, with their visitors (here she interpolated some mystic phrases which might have been introductions) they had driven over to see the ruins of the castle, and had meant to descend on Mrs. Martin and ask for some lunch, knowing that she kept open house. They had no idea she was away, and could not dream of staying and putting Nelly out.
To this, of course, Nelly demurred. They really must stay; it would give her so much pleasure; and Mrs. Martin would never forgive her if she let them go away. ”