of quite a tasteful little dinner-table laid for two, with a half-
filled vase in the centre for which the poppies were evidently
intended. Anna smiled delightedly when she saw his face, and at once
proceeded to arrange her flowers, while Dawson bustled about and
rang the bell, and chattered like an amiable magpie. In a very short
time the weak-minded Charles, now a reformed and steady character
and engaged to the head housemaid, brought in the tray, and a modest
and appetising little meal was served. Cutlets with sauce piquant
and pigeon pie, salad such as Malcolm loved, and a delicate pudding
which seemed nothing but froth and sweets, while an excellent bottle
of hock, sent up by Anderson, completed the repast.

"I wish mother could have joined us," observed Anna regretfully; "I
did my best to persuade her, but she said there was no time. The
people have not gone yet, and she has to dress, you see, so she said
she would have some tea in her dressing-room and talk to you later."

"I must just see about getting the mistress's things ready,"
interrupted Dawson, but she spoke in a grumbling tone. "Don't you
fash yourself, Mr. Malcolm,--I told Charles to unpack your Gladstone
and put out your clothes ready for the evening. My mistress won't be
dressed, you may take my word for it, for a good three-quarters of
an hour. There is nothing like a committee for dawdling along, and
keeping one standing on one leg as it were, like a pelican in the
wilderness, or a stuffed goose, or anything you like to call it.
Don't you let Mr. Malcolm hurry his dinner, Miss Anna, for there is
nothing so bad for the digestion; a good digestion comes next to a
good conscience in my opinion," and Dawson hurried away, all ready
primed with a scolding for her mistress--sandwiches being like the
proverbial red rag to a bull to this excellent woman.