"
Miss Notman was proud of her hand, viewed as one of the meritorious
details of her figure. She took up the sugar-tongs with suavity and
grace; she dropped the sugar into the cup with a youthful pleasure in
ministering to the minor desires of her illustrious guest. "It is
so good of you, Father, to honor me in this way," she said--with the
appearance of sixteen super-induced upon the reality of sixty.
Father Benwell was an adept at moral disguises of all kinds. On this
occasion he wore the disguise of pastoral simplicity. "I am an idle old
man at this hour of the afternoon," he said. "I hope I am not keeping
you from any household duties?"
"I generally enjoy my duties," Miss Notman answered. "To-day, they have
not been so agreeable as usual; it is a relief to me to have done with
them. Even my humble position has its trials."
Persons acquainted with Miss Notman's character, hearing these last
words, would have at once changed the subject. When she spoke of "her
humble position," she invariably referred to some offense offered to
her dignity, and she was invariably ready to state the grievance at full
length.
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