In-doors the representatives of the lower classes were less at ease than
they were without. Some of the ministers mingled with them, and tried to
form a bond between them and the other villagers. Mr. Peck took no part in
this work; he stood holding his elbows with his hands, and talking with a
perfunctory air to an old lady of his congregation.
The young ladies of South Hatboro', as Mrs. Munger's assistants, went about
impartially to high and low with trays of refreshments. Annie saw Putney,
where he stood with his wife and boy, refuse coffee, and she watched him
anxiously when the claret-cup came. He waved his hand over it, and said,
"No; I'll take some of the lemonade." As he lifted a glass of it toward his
lips he stopped and made as if to put it down again, and his hand shook so
that he spilled some of it. Then he dashed it off, and reached for another
glass. "I want some more," he said, with a laugh; "I'm thirsty." He drank a
second glass, and when he saw a tray coming toward Annie, where Dr. Morrell
had joined her, he came over and exchanged his empty glass for a full one.
"Not much to brag of as lemonade," he said, "but first-rate rum punch."
"Look here, Putney," whispered the doctor, laying his hand on his arm,
"don't you take any more of that. Give me that glass!"
"Oh, all right!" laughed Putney, dashing it off. "You're welcome to the
tumbler, if you want it, Doc."