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HYLAND Supper was waiting for them. On the table was the gilt-edged china. Mrs. Grant didn't notice it immediately, till she saw her husband smiling at her over his teacup; then she felt fidgety, and couldn't eat. She was nervous, and kept wondering what was behind her, whether it would be a little room or a closet. After supper she offered to help about the dishes, but, mercy! she might as well have offered to help bring the seasons round; Maria and Hannah couldn't be helped. So she and her husband went to find the little room, or closet, or whatever was to be there. Aunt Maria followed them, carrying the lamp, which she set down, and then went back to the dish-washing. Margaret looked at her husband. He kissed her, for she seemed troubled; and then, hand in hand, they opened the door. It opened into a china-closet. The shelves were neatly draped with scalloped paper; on them was the gilt-edged china, with the dishes missing that had been used at the supper, and which at that moment were being carefully washed and wiped by the two aunts. Margaret's husband dropped her hand and looked at her. She was trembling a little, and turned to him for help, for some ex- planation, but in an instant she knew that something was wrong. A cloud had come between them; he was hurt; he was antago- nized. He paused for an appreciable instant, and then said, kindly enough, but in a voice that cut her deeply: 'I am glad this ridiculous thing is ended; don't let us speak of it again.'