Hampden and the
gentleman would like to see me down stairs."
I arose listlessly and sauntered down to the library where they had
all three been just assembled in solemn conclave. My step-mother, in
her fresh black costume and stiff white cap, was seated in a rocking
chair near the door, wearing a placid look of the most harmless and
innocent neutrality: her solicitous brother occupied the extreme outer
margin of a chair by the centre-table, on which his bony hands with
their well-trimmed finger nails were modestly resting, becomingly
folded. The hind legs of his sparingly patronized seat were thrust
into the air by the weight of his high-bred humanity being entirely
deposited upon the front ones. Fred occupied the sofa, where he was
comfortably stretched at full length, with his arms thrown carelessly
over his head which was resting tenderly in his palms.
When I came into the room the three pairs of eyes were simultaneously
turned towards me. My step-mother gave me a gradual look beginning
with the hem of my skirts and reaching my serious face by slow
degrees. Her solicitous brother, without apology or explanation,
lowered his spectacles which, during the family conference, had been
shoved up on his capacious brow, and directed an unflinching stare at
me in the vicinity of my eyes. Fred, who could not take me all in at
once without disturbing himself somewhat, satisfied himself with a
full gaze upon as much of my outline as was easily defined in his
recumbent attitude.
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