The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-05-09
A + A NJ IL Y OHM E R
NY Friends Story.
lC0NCLUDEp.I

just as the dial pointed to a auarter
past three, the lady once more made her
apearauce, with.sthe welcome intelligence
that timer was on the table.
Now, then, for Mr.. RoLinson's family
dinner, thought L Ahem!
But really, after all. it was a good
cxtempore sort Of dinner; and il Mrs.
Robinson hal only taken it easy, and
spiced it with good temper, it would have
been an enjoyable one; 1t was evidently
hurr,edIy made up; dish Of slices Of cold
shoulder of mutton the could shoulder: {:
q dish of veal outlets which, no doubt,
were hanging in the butchers shop an
hour previously, but now nicly cooked -
a dish Of mashed potatoes beautifully
broNnia frui; tart, probably from the
s nearest pastry cooks soop; but ho harm
in that, | should hope; a new crusty
loaf, and = good Cheshire cheese y bottle
Of ale, from tho corner, prhaps: aud u
bottle Of wine from Mr.. Robinsop's celler.
what availed it that put on cheerful
countcnance, and deteminatly set about
the business of the table, with q good
appetite, asking no questions for con. cience
sake and exerted my powers Of conversa-
ton to charm away the frigid politeness OF
Mrs. Robinson; and the dark, gloomy,
ioggy silence of her lord and master.
II was plain, even then, that / had
offended the lady beyond hope of rem
edy. | never knew the mystery Of
that family dinner exactly but had
reason to suspect that on my arrival the
lady had already dined-at any rate, she
took care TO eatno part Of our family din
ner but sat like dummy the while it " as
deyourcd by the husband and his friend.
Probably she was in the middle of house
cleaning, or IN ironing, or an excbage OF
servants; or she had fixed on that day for
shopping excursion or visiting ex-
peditun, and did not like to he put of
from it. She might have expected her
husband TO dine at an eating house, as
should have been too happy 10 have dned,
La short; it was evident enough that my
Intrusion was e,ninently iuconvenient
aud that l was looked upon as an in
cumbrance, and asaspy upon the naked.
ness Of the land"
So, after exhausting all powers Of pleas
ing, Intellectually, succumbed to the force
OF circumstances, subsidized into sullen
silence and so the dinner concluded; and
the lady, with mucheerimonious politeness,
which might have been spared, withdrew
The atmosphere cleared little after
the lady disappeared. The wine and
biscuits were tolerable; and the lines OH
Mr.. Robinson's face relaxed and soften
ed. Nevertheless, he was by no means
perfectly at ease. He had committed an
act of gross Improperly, and he had not
heard the last Of it yet. However, he
family hoped (he said so, the hypocrite!)
that wouldtake coffee with Mrs. Robin
son before left; and looked amazingly
relieved when l pleaded BUSINESS as rea
son for leaving his table abruptly.
twas nearly five o'clock, and had lost
tue best part Of day, when turned from
his door.
l did not see Mrs. Robinson before Ilch,
but once or twice since then ha, e met her
but she looks darkly on me, and under
stand she speaks of me in mysteriously re-
served tonse.--I see Robinson every time
go to London, which is twice year; but
he has never asked me again TO family
dinner. lie may do it safely, but perhaps
he is not aware OF this.