Sophia passed little china plates and
fringed napkins, and Anna a silver basket with golden squares of
sponge-cake.
The ladies ate and drank, and the blue and white bundle on the
sofa remained motionless. Eudora, after she had finished her
tea, leaned back gracefully in her chair, and her dark eyes
gleamed with its mild stimulus. She remained an hour or more.
When she went out, Amelia slipped an envelope into her hand and
at the same time embraced and kissed her. Sophia and Anna
followed her example. Eudora opened her mouth as if to speak,
but smiled instead, a fond, proud smile. During the last fifteen
minutes of her stay Amelia had slipped out of the room with the
blue and white bundle. Now she brought it out and laid it
carefully in the carriage.
"We are always so glad to see you, dearest Eudora," said she,
"but you understand --"
"Yes," said Sophia, "you understand, Eudora dear, that there is
not the slightest haste."
Eudora nodded, and her long neck seemed to grow longer.
When she was stepping regally down the path, Amelia said in a
hasty whisper to Sophia: "Did you tell her?"
Sophia shook her head.
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