I did the carving, my companions did the questioning, and nearly all the conversation was about myself.

Ordinarily I would not have liked this, but every word which was said by these two fair ladies--for the sweetness of the mother was merely more seasoned than that of the daughter--was so filled with friendly interest that it gratified me to make my answers.
They seemed to have heard a great deal about me during my wanderings through Cathay.

They knew, of course, that I had stopped with the Putneys, for I had told them that, but they had also heard that I had spent a night at the Holly Sprig, and had afterwards stayed with the Larramies.

But of anything which had happened which in the slightest degree had jarred upon my feelings they did not appear to have heard the slightest mention.
I might have supposed that only good and happy news thought it worth while to stop at that abode of peace.

As I looked upon the serene and tender countenance of Mrs.Burton I wondered how a cloud rising from want of sympathy with early peas ever could have settled over this little family circle; but it was the man who had caused the cloud.