Page:Live and Let Live.djvu/194

 "What's wanted now?" barked out Violet.

"Nothing," replied little Grace, taken aback, "only mamma sent you down a glass of Congress water, and says, if you will try it every morning for two or three weeks, she thinks it will make you as pleasant as anybody."

Violet's colour mounted to the roots of her hair. "Why, Gracie!" exclaimed Susan, "I am sure mamma did not say that."

Poor Grace replied, somewhat fluttered, "Well, Susan, she said that—that is, she said—I mean—oh, I don't know what she said— only she meant if Violet was as well, she would be as good-natured as any of us." Violet's irritability, which was really merely symptomatic, was overcome by this view of the case; she was the first to smile, and, having drank the water, she thanked the little cup-bearer, and bade her thank her mother, in so changed a tone, that one might have fancied the water had the miraculous virtue of that prescribed by the prophet.

When Mrs. Hyde appeared she bestowed a kind word of approbation on Lucy for the prime order in which she found everything. Lucy transferred the praise to Susan, who, she said, understood a waiter's work as well as if she were brought up to it. Mrs. Hyde's children were "brought up" to all the details of housewifery. Before breakfast the family, every member of it, assembled and joined in a common supplication and a common thanksgiving to the Father of all.

During the meal, which was not hurried, as if the only reason for meeting round the table were to consume the food and enjoy that, Susan told her