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A SHABBY GENTEEL STORY S3
commit them. Well, on the present occasion, and when the dinner
was half over, poor Caroline stole gently into the room and took
her ordinary place. Caroline's pale face was very red ; for the fact
must be told that she had been in the kitchen helping Becky, the
universal maid ; and having heard how the great Mr. Brandon was
to dine with them upon that day, the simple girl had been showing
her respect for him, by compiling, in her best manner, a certain
dish, for the cooking of which her papa had often praised her. She
took her place, blushing violently when she saw him, and if Mr.
Gann had not been making a violent clattering with his knife and
fork, it is possible that he might have heard Miss Caroline's heart
thump, which it did violently. Her dress was somehow a little
smarter than usual; and Becky the maid, who brought in that
remove of hashed mutton which has been set down in the bill of
fare, looked at her young lady with a good deal of complacency, as,
loaded with plates, she quitted the room. Indeed, the poor girl
deserved to be looked at : there was an air of gentleness and innocence
about her that was apt to please some persons, much more
than the bold beauties of her sisters. The two young men did not
fail to remark this ; one of them, the little painter, had long since
observed it.
" You are very late, miss," cried Mrs. Gann, who affected not
to know what had caused her daughter's delay. " You're always
late !" and the elder girls stared and grinned at each other knowingly,
as they always did when mamma made such attacks upon
Caroline, who only kept her eyes down upon the tablecloth, and
began to eat her dinner without saying a word.
" Come, my dear," cried honest Gann, " if she is late you know
why. A girl can't be here and there too, as I say; can they,
Swigby ?"
" Impossible ! " said Swigby.
"Gents," continued Mr. Gann, "our Carry, you must know,
has been downstairs, making the pudding for her old pappy ; and a
good pudding she makes, I can tell you."
Miss Caroline blushed more vehemently than ever ; the artist
stared her full in the face ; Mrs. Gann said, " Nonsense" and
" Stuff," very majestically ; only Mr. Brandon interposed in
Caroline's favour.
"I would sooner that my wife should know how to make a
pudding," said he, " than how to play the best piece of music in
the world !"
" Law, Mr. Brandon ! I, for my part, wouldn't demean myself
by any such kitchen-work !" cries Miss Linda.
" Make puddens, indeed ; it's ojous !" cries Bella.
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