The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-18

Tberp arc numerous lUokers-on at the dinner,
I as fhe custom is. There are two or three gov
| e1nors whole families from the congtegatOni
! smaller Rroups of both sexes, lndlVldual strag-
! olore of various degrees Tue bright autumnal
! sun strikes freshly into the wards; and the
| heavy-lramed windows through which 1t shines,
and the panelled walls on which 1t strikes, are
such windows and such walls as pervade
Hugarths pictures The girls refectory (includ-
ing that OF the younger children) is the prlnci-
pal 1atiractiou. Neat attendants silently glide
about the orderly and silent tables; the lockers
on move or stop as the fancy takes them; com
ments in whispers on face such number from
such window are not untrequent; many OF the
faces are OF character to hx attention. Some
OF the visitors from the outside public are accus-
toned visitors. They have established a speak
ing acquaintance with the occupants OF particu-
lar seats at the table, aud halt at those points
to beGd down and say word or two. II is no
ditparagement 70 their kindness that those
points are generally points where personal
attractions are. The monotony OF the long
spacious rooms and the double linen of faces is
aereeably relieved by these incidents, although
so slight.
yelled lady, who has no companion, goes
among the company. 1t would seem that curl
osty and opportunity have never brought her
here before, She has the air of being little
troubled by the sight and as she goes the length
of the tables, II is with hesitatlng step and au
uneasy manner. At leugth she comes to The re-
tectory of the boys They are so much less
popular than the girls that it is bare Of visitors
when she looks iu at the doorway.
But Just within the doorway chances to stand,
inspecting, an elderly female attendant-some
order of nation or housekeeper. To whom the
lady addresses natural questions, as, How many
boys? At what age are they usually pat out in
life? Do they often take a fancy to the sea
So lower and lower iu tone, until the lady puts
the question, (Which is Walter WildlngW
Attendants head shaken. Against the rules,
'You know which is Walter WildingP
So keenly docs the attendant feel the close
ness with which the lady's eyes examine her
face, that she keeps her own eyes fast upon the
Hrnv lprf NV w n n
they should betIay her.
II know which is Walter Wilding, but it is
not my place, ma'am, to tell names 70 visitors"
But you can show me without te ling me-"
The lady's hand moves quietly to the atten-
dant's hand. Pause and silence.
~ am going to pass round the tables,o says
the lady's interlocutor, without seeming to
address her "Folow me with your eyes. The
boy that stop-a at and speak to will not matter
to you. But the boy that touch will be Walter
Wllding. Say nothing more TO me, and move a
Quickly acting on the hint, the lady passes on
into the room, and looks about her. After q
few moments, the attendant, in staid official
way, walks down outside the line Of tables COM
mencing on her left hand. She goes the whole
| length Of the line, turns, and comes back on the
inside. Very slightly glauclng in the lady's
direction, she stops bends forward, and speaks.
The boy whom she addresses lifts his head and
replies. Good humOredly and easily, as she
! listens to what he says, she lays her hand upon
! the shoulder of the next boy on his right. That
! the action may be we'll noted, she keeps her
! hand on the shoulder while speaking in return,
! and pats it twice or thrice before moving away.
| She completes her tour of the tables, touching
| no one else, and passes out by door at the op.
| posite end of the long room.
| Dinner is done, and the lady, too, walks down
outside the line of tables commencing on her
left hand, goes the whole length of the line,
turns, and comes back on the inside. Other
people have strolled in, fortunately for her, and
stopping at the touched boy, asks how old he is.
81 am twelve, ma'am," he answers, with his
bright eyes fixed on hers.
"Are you well and happyW
eyes, ma'am."
'May you take these sWeetmeats from my
hand?"
IF you please to give them to me-"
In STOPPING low for the purpose, the lady
touches the boys face with her forehead and
! with her hair. Then, lowering her veil again,
she passes on, and passes out without looking
! back