Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - Chapter XXVII. Misfortune upon misfortune.
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###: THE SKJUTS-BOY.
water was boîling, the cups were standing in par.ade around thc
tea-table; the swect cakes arose in savotkry py#-amids from the
cake-baskets, and the scant contents of the sugar-box–all tha#
the bouse was able to afford–were crushed, and placed in the
sugar-bowl, but what did all this amount to # The clock struck
six; #¢icholas seemed as though he had been swallowcd wi#h all
his load, by the earth, and as often as one of the guests com-
plained with horror of the cold weather, ]#Iadame De Dressen
felt worse thaa if one had trod upon one of ber most painful corns.
" Tea will be ready immediately," said the polite hostess, with
a smile; but despair was within her hear#.
"Do you hOt wish me #o assis# in filling the cups?" inquired
the pa.stor’s daughter, l#Iina, who was in the nex# room.
"Assist me ?" said Amelia, with a smile; "God grant that we
were so far that I shotfld be able #o assis# myself. Thank you,
dear ]#Iina, we are waiting with anxiety for #¢icholas, who drove
to the city before eight dclock yesterday morning, and bas not
ye# returned with all the things which he was to fetch back, and
should bave arrived this morning af ten o’clock al least."
""#Vha# are you saying, poor Amelia! The gucsts here, and
you bave no tea #."
" And no sugar; in fact, nothing," added Amelia, des-
pairingly.
"But, dear Lord, we must final some expedicnt to ge# out of
this difficulty," said ]#lina, with good-natured readiness fo serve.
"You bave a little sugar yet, I see; put now a couple of cups of
honey on the table; all the guests bave bad colds; I shall also
say that you put both on the table for the sake of their choosing
which to take, and l’ll ber you a hundred to one, that if the
chamberlain acccpts it, every one will take honey; such a dis-
tinguished gentleman mus# of course bave sugar, and for Mm
there will be enough. Leave it ail to me, my dear."
" 0, you excellent l##ina, you are worth your weight in gold,
but we" bave no tea; God help us."
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