I don't care for your recommendation if
I have your instruction. Shall we begin to-morrow?"
There followed a discussion relative to hours, methods, and materials,
which lasted very nearly until tea-time. Then, as there was still some
rain falling, the professor extended to his pupil an invitation to
supper, on his accepting which the old gentleman shuffled out into the
entry, and called to Cornelia to come down and make the necessary
preparations.
CHAPTER V.
BRESSANT PICKS A TEA-ROSE.
Supper was ready: Cornelia surveyed the table for the last time, to make
sure it was all right. It was an extension-table, but the spare leaves
had been removed, and it was reduced to a circle. A mellow western light
from that portion of the sky unswathed in clouds streamed through the
window, and did duty as a lamp. The cloth was white, and tapered down in
soft folds at the corners; a pleasant profusion of sparkling china and
silver, and of savory eatables, filled the circumference of the board,
leaving just space enough to operate in, and no more. In the centre of
the table, and perceptible both to eyes and nose on entering the room,
was a tall glass dish, lined with wet green leaves, and pyramided with
red strawberries. A comfortable steam ascended from the nose of the
tea-pot, and vanished upward in the gloom of the ceiling; the brown
toast seemed crackling to be eaten; the smooth-cut slices of marbled
beef lay overlapping one another in silent plenteousness; and the knives
and forks glistened to begin.
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