XV

ThefirsteveninginCreeperCottagewasunpleasant.Therewasablazingwoodfire,thecurtainsweredrawn,thelampshonerosilythroughitsredshade,andwhenPriscillastoodupherhairdustedtheoakbeamsoftheceiling,itwassolow.Thebackground,yousee,wasperfectlysatisfactoryexactlywhatacottagebackgroundshouldbeonanautumnnightwhenoutsideawetmistishanginglikeagreycurtainacrossthewindowpanesandTussiearrivingatnineo'clocktohelpconsecratethenewlifewithShakespearefelt,asheopenedthedoorandwalkedoutofthedarknessintotherosy,cosylittleroom,thatheneednotafterallworryhimselfwithdoubtsastothedivinegirl'sbeingcomfortable.Neverdidplaceappearmorecomfortable.Itdidnotoccurtohimthatalampwitharedshadeandtheblazeofawoodfirewillmakeanyplaceappearcomfortablesolongastheygoonshining,andhelookedupatPriscilla—Iamafraidhehadtolookupatherwhentheywerebothstanding—withthebroadestsmileofgenuinepleasure."Itdoeslookjolly,"hesaidheartily. Hispleasurewasdoomedtoanimmediatewipingout.Priscillasmiled,butwithareservationbehindhersmilethathissensitivespiritfeltatonce.Shewasalone,andtherewasnosignwhatevereitherofheruncleorofpreparationsforthereadingofShakespeare. "Isanythingnotquiteright?"Tussieasked,hisfacefallingatoncetoananxiouspucker. Priscillalookedathimandsmiledagain,butthistimethesmilewasreal,inhereyesaswellasonherlips,dancinginthemtogetherwiththeflickeringfirelight."It'sratherfunny,"shesaid."Ithasneverhappenedtomebefore.Whatdoyouthink?I'mhungry." "Hungry?" "Hungry." Tussiestared,arrestedintheunwindingofhiscomforter. "Reallyhungry.Dreadfullyhungry.SohungrythatIhateShakespeare." "But—" "Iknow.You'regoingtosaywhynoteat?Itdoesseemsimple.Butyou'venoideahowdifficultitreallyis.I'mafraidmyuncleandIhaveratherheapstolearn.Weforgottogetacook." "Acook?ButIthought—Iunderstoodthatcurtseyingmaidofyourswasgoingtodoallthat?" "SodidI.Sodidhe.Butshewon't." Priscillaflushed,forsinceTussieleftafterteashehadhadgrievoussurprises,ofakindthatmadeherfirstindignantandtheninclinedtowince.FritzinghadnotbeenabletohidefromherthatAnnalisehadrebelledandrefusedtocook,andPriscillahadnotbeenabletofollowherimmediateimpulseanddismissher.Itwasatthispoint,whensherealizedthis,thatthewincingbegan.Shefeltperfectlysickatthethought,flasheduponherforthefirsttime,thatshewasinthepowerofaservant. "Doyoumeantosay,"saidTussie