I reckoned you wouldn't want ter wait until I'd sot the whole table over again." "By no means," cried Ralph, and down they sat, Ralph at one end of the long table, and Miriam at the other.

It was a good supper; beefsteak, an omelet, hot rolls, fried potatoes, coffee, tea, preserved fruit, and all on the scale suited to a family of eight.
When Phoebe had retired to the kitchen, presumably for additional supplies, Miriam stretched her arms over the table.
"Think of it, Ralph," she said, "this is our supper.

The first meal we ever truly owned." They had not been long at the table when they were startled by the loud ringing of the door-bell.
"'Pon my word," ejaculated Phoebe, "it's a long time since that bell's been rung," and getting down a plate of hotter biscuit, with which she had been offering temptations, she left the room.

Presently she returned, ushering in Dr.Tolbridge.
Briefly introducing himself, the doctor welcomed the brother and sister to the neighborhood of Thorbury, and apologized for the extreme promptness of his call.
"I heard you had arrived," he said, "from a hackman I met on the road, and having made a visit near by I thought I would look in on you.

It might be days before I should again have a chance.