an icing temple on the top of it, with silver doves adorning it
outside and in. There was no mistaking the poetic significance of
that cake. Outside the blizzard whirled clouds of snow-particles
through the air, and the van horse kept his head down and his
forelegs braced. His driver had long since tried to cover him with a
blanket which the wind continually tore loose from its fastenings,
and flapped about the creature's sides. Inside the store grew hot.
There was hurried moving about, banging of doors, excited voices,
irascible orders given and countermanded. Tembarom found out in five
minutes that the refreshments were for a wedding reception to be held
at a place known as "The Hall," and the goods must be sent out in
time to be ready for the preparations for the wedding supper that
night.

"If I knew how to handle it, I could get stuff for a column just
sitting here," he thought. He kept both eyes and ears open. He was
sharp enough to realize that the mere sense of familiarity with
detail which he was gaining was material in itself. Once or twice he
got up and lent a hand with a box in his casual way, and once or
twice he saw that he could lift some-thing down or up for Mrs.
Munsberg, who was a little woman. The natural casualness of his way
of jumping up to do the things prevented any suspicion of
officiousness, and also prevented his waiting figure from beginning
to wear the air of a superfluous object in the way. He waited a long
time, and circumstances so favored him as to give him a chance or so.
More than once exactly the right moment presented itself when he
could interject an apposite remark. Twice he made Munsberg laugh, and
twice Mrs. Munsberg voluntarily addressed him.

At last the boxes and parcels ware all carried out and stored in the