condescendingly, "which is one good result of not having been used to
a servant to do it for her. And she must have had such excellent
practice at Mrs. Ferguson's. I believe those sort of people always feed
together--parents, children, apprentices and all."

"I assure you, not always," said Christian, quietly. "At least I dined
with the children alone,"

"Indeed! How very pleasant!"

"It was not unpleasant. They were good little things; and, as you know,
I always prefer having children about me at meal-times. I think it
makes them little gentlemen and gentlewomen in a manner that nothing
else will. If I had a house"--she stopped and blushed deeply for having
let old things--ah! they seemed so very old, and far back now--make
her forget the present. "I mean, I should wish in my house to have the
children always accustomed to come to the parents' table as soon as
they were old enough to handle a knife and fork."

"Should you?" said Dr. Grey, quite startling her, for she thought he had
not been attending to the conversation. "Then we will have Titia and
Atty to breakfast with us to-morrow."

Thus, without any fuss the great revolution was made; so quickly, so
completely, that even Miss Gascoigne was dumb-foundered. She set
down her teacup with a jerk; her handsome face grew red with anger,
but still she did not venture a word, she had not lived three years with
Dr. Grey without finding out that when the master of the house did
choose to exercise authority, he must be obeyed. He very seldom
interfered, especially as regarded the children; like most simple-minded