ten miles to notify her of the funeral. He scowled hard at her and
the three little girls after they had returned to their seats. One of
the girls, a pretty child with red curls, caught his frown, and
stared at him with scared but fascinated blue eyes.

Supper was announced shortly. Belinda Lamb, instigated by Paulina
Maria, stood in the door and said, with melancholy formality, "Will
you come out now and have a little refreshment before you go home?"

Ann did not stir. The others went out lingeringly, holding back for
politeness' sake; she sat still with her black veil over her face and
her black gloved hands crossed in her lap. Paulina Maria came to her
and tried to induce her to remove her bonnet and have some tea with
the rest, but she shook her head. "I want to just sit here and keep
still till they're gone," said she.

She sat there. Some of the others came and added their persuasions to
Paulina Maria's, but she was firm. Jerome remained beside his mother;
Elmira had been bidden to go into the other room and help wait upon
the company.

"There's room for Jerome at the table, if you ain't coming," said
Paulina Maria to Ann; but Jerome answered for himself.

"I'll wait till that crowd are gone," said he, with a fierce gesture.

"You wouldn't speak that way if you were my boy," said Paulina Maria.

Jerome muttered under his breath that he wasn't her boy. Paulina
Maria cast a stern glance at him as she went out.