The Late Mrs. Null | Page 3

of some casual
remark, some observation regarding man, nature, or society, or even an
anecdote or historical incident, which, if brought into the conversation,
might produce upon the lady's countenance some shade of expression,
or some variation in her tone or words which would give him the
information he sought for. But what he said was: "Are they really
suppers that you have, or are they only teas?"
"Now I know," said the lady, "why you have sometimes taken dinner
with us, but never supper. You were afraid that it would be a tea."
Lawrence Croft was thinking that if this girl believed that he was in
love with her, it would make a great deal of difference in his present
course of action. If such were the case, he ought not to come here so
often, or, in fact, he ought not to come at all, until he had decided for
himself what he was going to do. But what could he say that would
cause her, for the briefest moment, to unveil her idea of himself. "I
never could endure," he said, "those meals which consist of thin
shavings of bread with thick plasters of butter, aided and abetted by
sweet cakes, preserves, and tea."

"You should have reserved those remarks," she said, "until you had
found out what sort of evening meal we have."
He could certainly say something, he thought. Perhaps it might be some
little fanciful story which would call up in her mind, without his
appearing to intend it, some thought of his relationship to her as a
lover--that is, if she had ever had such a notion. If this could be done,
her face would betray the fact. But, not being ready to make such a
remark, he said: "I beg your pardon, but do you really have suppers in
the English fashion?"
"Oh, no," answered Miss Roberta, "we don't have a great cold joint,
with old cheese, and pitchers of brown stout and ale, but neither do we
content ourselves with thin bread and butter, and preserves. We have
coffee as well as tea, hot rolls, fleecy and light, hot batter bread made
of our finest corn meal, hot biscuits and stewed fruit, with plenty of
sweet milk and buttermilk; and, if anybody wants it, he can always
have a slice of cold ham."
"If I could only feel sure," thought Mr Croft, "that she looked upon me
merely as an acquaintance, I would cease to trouble my mind on this
subject, and let everything go on as before. But I am not sure, and I
would rather not come here again until I am." "And at what hour," he
asked, "do you partake of a meal like that?"
"In summer time," said Miss Roberta, "we have supper when it is dark
enough to light the lamps. My uncle dislikes very much to be deprived,
by the advent of a meal, of the out-door enjoyment of a late afternoon,
or, as we call it down here, the evening."
"It would be easy enough," thought Mr Croft, "for me to say something
about my being suddenly obliged to go away, and then notice its effect
upon her. But, apart from the fact that I would not do anything so
vulgar and commonplace, it would not advantage me in the slightest
degree. She would see through the flimsiness of my purpose, and, no
matter how she looked upon me, would show nothing but a well-bred
regret that I should be obliged to go away at such a pleasant season." "I
think the hour for your supper," said he, "is a very suitable one, but I

am not sure that such a variety of hot bread would agree with me."
"Did you ever see more healthy-looking ladies and gentlemen than you
find in Virginia?" asked Miss March.
"It is not that I want to know if she looks favorably upon me," said
Lawrence Croft to himself, "for when I wish to discover that, I shall
simply ask her. What I wish now to know is whether, or not, she
considers me at all as a lover. There surely must be something I can say
which will give me a clew." "The Virginians, as a rule," he replied, "are
certainly a very well-grown and vigorous race."
"In spite of the hot bread," she said with a smile.
Just then Mr Croft believed himself struck by a happy thought. "You
are not prepared, I suppose, to say, in consequence of it; and that recalls
the fact that so much in this world happens in spite of things, instead of
in consequence of them."
"I don't know that I exactly understand," said Miss Roberta.
"Well, for instance," said Mr Croft, "take the case of marriage. Don't
you think that a