erved herself to prepare
the dinner of her life.

And now for the first time Grizel was to have a personal experience of
the momentous influence of a dinner party in an ordinary middle-class
establishment! For two days beforehand "plannings ahead" enveloped the
atmosphere like a cloud. The parlourmaid planned ahead in respect of
extra polishing of silver and glass, and was testy in consequence, and
disposed to neglect present work. Cook's whole energies seemed
engrossed in the preparation of a mysterious substance yclept "stock,"
which filled the house with the most unsavoury of odours, and she
plainly considered it an injury to be expected to provide the ordinary
meals, while Marie lashed the troubled waters by an attitude of amused
disdain.

On the morning of the great day itself the very atmosphere was
impregnated with strain, and the two domestics appeared to feel it a
personal injury that Grizel herself remained smilingly unperturbed, and
went about her way as placidly as if nothing unusual were in the air.
Parsons could not decide if it was ignorance, or pure "cussedness" which
made the mistress suddenly decide to move the position of the furniture
in the room above the dining-room, and to insist upon its being done
without delay. The gardener was called in to help, and Parsons of fell
intent made the removal as noisy and cumbersome as it could be, and then
discovered to her chagrin that both master and mistress had left the
house, and had consequently suffered no annoyance from the noise.

By four o'clock a jingle of glass and china announced the fact that
Parsons had begun the preparation of "my table," a work of exceptional
responsibility, since beyond a few general directions it had been left
entirely in her charge. The day before Grizel had unlocked the door of
the upstairs safe-cupboard, wherein reposed some treasures from Lady
Griselda's famous collection of silver, the like of which Parsons had
never before beheld. Bowls and goblets, branching candelabra, finely
wrought receptacles for fruit, large and small, high and low, each one a
work of art. Sufficient treasures for the adornment of a dozen dinner
tables were packed away on those baize-covered shelves from which
Parsons was bidden to take her choice. Something of the same sombre
elation filled her veins as that with which Cook in her kitchen whipped
and stirred, and mixed and tasted, resigned to suffer in the hope of
glory to come.

At si