Fyne broke the awful silence: "You
really must try to eat something," in her best resolute manner. She
turned to the "odious person" with the same determination. "Perhaps you
will sit down and have a cup of coffee, too."
The worthy "employer of labour" sat down. He might have been awed by
Mrs. Fyne's peremptory manner--for she did not think of conciliating him
then. He sat down, provisionally, like a man who finds himself much
against his will in doubtful company. He accepted ungraciously the cup
handed to him by Mrs. Fyne, took an unwilling sip or two and put it down
as if there were some moral contamination in the coffee of these
"swells." Between whiles he directed mysteriously inexpressive glances
at little Fyne, who, I gather, had no breakfast that morning at all.
Neither had the girl. She never moved her hands from her lap till her
appointed guardian got up, leaving his cup half full.
"Well. If you don't mean to take advantage of this lady's kind offer I
may just as well take you home at once. I want to begin my day--I do."
After a few more dumb, leaden-footed minutes while Flora was putting on
her hat and jacket, the Fynes without moving, without saying anything,
saw these two leave the room.
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