But Mrs. Brewster
comprehended the shock it must have been to the city girls and tried to
cover the unfortunate incident.
"Anne, will you seat your friends at that side of the table? Polly and
I will sit on this side. Mr. Brewster always sits at the head, you
know, and I leave the other end for Sary as it is nearest the stove
where she can reach it without walking so far."
Jeb came in and immediately pulled out a chair and sat down in his
accustomed place, regardless of the standing ladies. Barbara looked on
in amazement but said nothing. She was past words!
As they all sat down, Eleanor happened to catch her sister's eye and
expression, and turned suddenly to Anne. Anne, too, had seen the horror
on Barbara's face as Jeb reached over the table for a spoon Sary had
forgotten to place beside his plate.
Eleanor raised the napkin to hide her laughing face, but Mr. Brewster
construed the act to be one of reverence, and he approved of such
tendencies in the young. Consequently, he hastened to say grace.
Barbara sat stiff-necked throughout the lengthy prayer because she felt
so rebellious at everything and with everything, that she wouldn't pay
heed to the usual courtesy at prayer-time.
The moment Mr. Brewster said "Amen," Sary carried the large soup-pot
from the stove and was about to ladle the soup into the bowls when
Barbara said icily: "None for me, thank you!"
Jeb was tying his napkin about his neck, but at such a surprising
refusal he gaped at the stranger.
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