Now
there was sunshine as well as calm.
"What shall I do, May?" said Helen, who had been reading the paper.
"We must try and make a nice supper, as my uncle wishes, Helen. I will
make waffles and tea-biscuits, if you wish it, and we can order cake
from Delaro's. I think this, with chipped ham, tea, and coffee, will
be sufficient."
"Thank you, May. I am so ignorant; if you will only do it all for me,
I shall be so obliged to you. You know I shall have to dress, and it
takes me so long to arrange my hair gracefully. I wish, sometimes,
that I had none--it is so troublesome," said the selfish girl.
"Yes," said May, after a little while, "I will attend to it. My dress
is such an every day affair, that I shall be able to have every thing
ready, to take the head of the table in time."
"The head of the table! I rather expect Mr. Stillinghast intends me to
preside."
"Possibly. If my uncle wishes it, Helen, I will certainly resign it to
you; but, as I have always sat there, I shall continue to do so until
he requests me to do otherwise," said May, with becoming firmness.
"Oh, of course! It is quite indifferent to me, my dear;--but what have
we here?" said Helen, taking up the bundle which Mr. Stillinghast had
laid on the table. "See, May, what splendidly chased silver forks!
How heavy they are; and see! here is a crest on them."
"They are very old, I presume," said May, examining them with interest.
"As old as the hills! Where on earth has the old curmudgeon kept them
all this time?" exclaimed Helen.
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