The dinner-bell here put an end to the conversation, and Lucy preceded
her guests to the dining-room, followed by her brother, who had been
more than usually affectionate in his greeting to his sister, whom he
took in to dinner, while Grey escorted his mother and Miss McPherson.




CHAPTER VII.

THE DINNER, AT WHICH BESSIE IS INTRODUCED.


The soup and fish had been served, and during the interval while Mr.
Jerrold carved the big turkey which Hannah had contributed, and which
she had fattened all the summer in anticipation of Grey's return and
this very dinner, Mrs. Geraldine took occasion to introduce her favorite
subject of conversation, Europe, and its customs, which she thought so
infinitely superior to those this side the water.

"Umph!" ejaculated Miss McPherson, with an upward toss of the chin.
Then, turning to Grey, she said, "And did you, too, like all the foreign
habits?"

"No, indeed," was Grey's reply. "Just think of having your coffee and
roll brought to you in the morning while you are in bed, and eating it
in the smelling room, without washing your hands, and then going to
sleep again. That is what I call very _narsty_, as the English say,
though they do not use the word in that sense."