than this handsome young fellow was giving to-night? He tried to
remember the older Charity's mother; what she had said, what
expression her face had worn, and it seemed to him that he could
dimly recall reluctance and pain and gravity in that long-ago
look.

After dinner Cherry and Martin, in all the ecstatic first delight
of recognized love, went out to the wide front porch, where there
were wicker chairs, under the rose vines. Alix alone laughed at
them as they went. Anne, with a storm in her heart, played noisily
on the piano, and the doctor, after giving the doorway where
Cherry had disappeared a wistful look, restlessly took to his
armchair and his book, in such desolation of spirit as he had not
known since the dark day of her mother's death.

The next day Alix and the engaged pair walked up to invite Peter
to a tennis foursome on the old Blithedale court. It was a
Saturday, and as he usually dined with them, or asked them to dine
with him on Saturday, they were not surprised to find him busy
with a charcoal burner, under the trees, compounding a marvellous
dish of chicken, tomatoes, cream, and mushrooms, or to have his
first words a caution not to tip things over if they wanted any
dinner. His Chinese cook was hovering about, but Peter himself was
chef.

"Stop your messing one second!" Alix said, catching him by the
arm. And as he straightened up she added, with a little awkward
laugh, "Congratulate these creatures--they--they're going to be
married! Why don't you congratulate them!"