It was dreadful! Nobody said a word, and Tom laid the telegram right
down in his plate, where it immediately began to soak up the dressing
of his salad. He was so white and shaky that Pet looked at him in
amazement, and then I am sure she had the good sense to find his hand
under the cloth and hold it, for his shoulder hovered against hers, and
the colour came back to his face as he smiled down at her. I don't
believe I'll ever get the courage to look at Tom again until he marries
Pet, which he'll do now, I feel sure.

And as for the judge and Ruth Clinton, I was glad they were sitting
beside each other, for I could avoid that side of the table with my eyes
until I had steadied myself a few seconds at least. The surprise made
the others I had been dining seem statues from the stone age, and only
Mr. Graves' fork failed to hang fire. His appetite is as strong as his
nerves, and Delia Hawes looked at his composure with the relief plain in
her eyes. Henrietta's smile in the judge's direction was doubtful. But
they were not all my lovers, and why that awful silence?

I couldn't say a word, and I am sure I don't know what I should have
done if it hadn't been for the doctor. He leaned forward, and his deep
eyes came out in their wonderful way and seemed to collect every pair of
eyes at the table, even the most astounded. We all held our breaths and
waited for him to speak.

"No wonder we are all stricken dumb at Mrs. Carter's telegram," he
said in his deep voice that commands everybody and everything, even the
terrors of birth and death. "The whole town will be paralysed at the
news that its most distinguished citizen is only going to give them two
days to get ready to receive him. I can see the panic the brass band
will have now getting the brass polished up, and I want to be the one