Whenhurriedservantsweresenttofindtheiryoungmistresstheyreportedthatshemusthavegoneout，andintruthshehad;outonherownroof，whereshesatquitestill，thoughshiveringalittlenowandthenfromthenewexcitement，untildinnertime。
Thismeal，inthemindofMadamWeatherstone，wasthecrowningfactorofdailylife;and，onstateoccasions，ofsociallife。Inhercosmogonythecentralsunwasaroundmahoganytable;allotherdetailsofhousekeepingrevolvedaboutitinvaryingorbits。Toserveanendlessseriesofdignifieddeliciousmeals，notablydinners，was，inhereyes，thechiefendofwoman;themosthighpurposeofthehome。
Therefore，thoughangryandastounded，sheappearedpromptlywhenthemealwasannounced;andwhenherdaughter—in—law，sereneandroyallyattired，tookherplaceasusual，noemotionwasallowedtoappearbeforethepurplefootmanwhoattended。
\"Iunderstoodyouwereout，Viva，\"shesaidpolitely。
\"Iwas，\"repliedViva，withequaldecorum。\"Itischarmingoutsideatthistimeintheevening——don’tyouthinkso？\"