Once or twice Dorothy made a little effort to speak, but these attempts failed utterly.

The old woman would hardly reply even by a monosyllable, but simply muttered something, or shook her head when she was addressed.

Jane, who waited at table, was very demure and silent, and Martha, who once came into the room during the meal, merely whispered a word into Miss Stanbury's ear.

When the cloth was removed, and two glasses of port had been poured out by Miss Stanbury herself, Dorothy felt that she could endure this treatment no longer.

How was it possible that she could drink wine under such circumstances?
[Illustration: Aunt Stanbury at dinner will not speak.] "Not for me, Aunt Stanbury," said she, with a deploring tone.
"Why not ?" "I couldn't drink it to-day." "Why didn't you say so before it was poured out?
And why not to-day?
Come, drink it.