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Show '5' !Silt> 'Rose ant> $tiller somc:wbat the next day or divide one piece between you su~uc:b and me." "I 'II bet she made another. She always fed us, and I remember that the kids around the corner could n't even have bread and molasses between meals." On the way to the dining-room, Juliet drew her brother aside and whispered to him: 11 Watch the others, then you'll be sure of getting the right fork." u Huh!" he returned, resentfully, having been accustomed to only one fork since he and Juliet began to keep house for themselves. When he saw the array of silver at his plate, however, he blessed her for the hint. As the dinner progressed by small portions of oysters, soup, and fish, he gratefully remembered the bread and jam. The twins noted that the others always left a little on their plates, but proudly disdained the subterfuge for themselves. Madame Francesca sat opposite the Colonel and Rose was at his right. Romeo sat next to her and across from them was Allison, between Isabel and Juliet. Somewhat subdued by the unfamiliar situation, the twins said very little during dinner. Juliet took careful note of the appointments of the table and dining-room, and of the gowns the other women wore. \Vhen Romeo was not occupied with his dinner and the various ltecptno tbe lfaltl.> forks, he watched Isabel with frank admiration, and wondered what made the difference between her and Juliet. Everybody tried to produce general conversation, but could extract only polite monosyllables from the twins. Questions addressed directly to them were briefly answered by 11 yes'' or "no," or u l don't know," or, more often, by a winning smile which included them all. Had it not been for Madame Francesca, gallantly assisted by the Colonel, the abnormal silence of the younger guests might have reacted unfavourably upon the entertainment, for Isabel was as quiet as she usually was, in the presence of her aunt and cousin, Allison became unable to think of topics of general interest, and Rose's efforts to talk pleasantly while her heart was aching were no more successful than such efforts usually are. But Madame Francesca, putting aside the burden of her seventy years, laughed and talked and told stories with all the zest of a girl. Inspired by her shining example, the Colonel dragged forth a few musty old anecdotes and offered them for inspection. They were new to the younger generation, and Madame affected to find them new also. Rose wondered at her, as often, envying her the gift of detachment. The fear that had come upon Rose at midnight was with her still, haunting her, waking or sleeping, like 153 f'orcc:b merriment |