Such a cup of tea, as she expressed it, set her up for the day.

The felt carpet had given Mrs.
Meadowsweet a kind of shock, but all her natural spirits revived when she saw the tea equipage.

She approved of the exquisite eggshell china, and noted with satisfaction that the teapot was really silver.
"What a refreshment a cup of tea is!" exclaimed the good woman.

"Nothing like it, as I dare say you know, Mrs.Bertram." Mrs.Bertram smiled languidly, and raising the teapot, prepared to pour out a cup for her guest.

She was startled by a noise, which sounded something like a shout, coming from the fat lady's lips.
"Did you speak ?" she asked.
"Oh, I beg your pardon, Mrs.Bertram, but don't--it's cruel." "Don't do what ?" "The tea isn't drawn.