The Green Mummy - Page 73/191

Thus it came about that six people assembled in the tiny pink parlor

of Mrs. Jasher at the hour of seven o'clock. It required dexterous

management to seat the whole company in the dining room, which was only

a trifle larger than the parlor. However, Mrs. Jasher contrived to place

them round her hospitable board in, a fairly comfortable fashion, and,

once seated, the dinner was so good that no one felt the drawbacks of

scanty elbow room. The widow, as hostess, was placed at the head of the

table; Don Pedro, as the eldest of the men, at the foot; and Sir Frank,

with Donna Inez, faced Archie and Lucy Kendal. Jane, who was well

instructed in waiting by her mistress, attended to her duties admirably,

acting both as footman and butler. Lucy, indeed, had offered Mrs. Jasher

the services of Cockatoo to hand round the wine, but the widow with a

pretty shudder had declined.

"That dreadful creature with his yellow mop of hair gives me the

shivers," she declared.

Considering the isolation of the district, and the narrow limits of Mrs.

Jasher's income, the meal was truly, admirable, being well cooked and

well served, while the table was arrayed like an altar for the reception

of the various dishes. Whatever Mrs. Jasher might be as an adventuress,

she certainly proved herself to be a capital housekeeper, and Lucy

foresaw that, if she did become Mrs. Braddock, the Professor would fare

sumptuously, for the rest of his scientific life. When the meal was

ended the widow produced a box of superfine cigars and another of

cigarettes, after which she left the gentlemen to sip their wine, and

took her two young friends to chatter chiffons in the tiny parlor. And

it said much for Mrs. Jasher's methodical ways that, considering the

limited space, everything went--as the saying goes--like clockwork.

Likewise, the widow had proved herself a wonderful hostess, as she

kept the ball of conversation rolling briskly and induced a spirit of

fraternity, uncommon in an ordinary dinner party.

During the meal Mrs. Jasher had kept off the subject of the mummy, which

was the excuse for the entertainment; but when the gentlemen strolled

into the parlor, feeling well fed and happy, she hinted at Don Pedro's

quest. As the night was cold and the Peruvian gentleman came from the

tropics, he was established in a well padded arm-chair close to the

sea-coal fire, and with her own fair hands Mrs. Jasher gave him a cup of

fragrant coffee, which was rendered still more agreeable to the palate

by the introduction of a vanilla bean. With this and with a good

cigar--for the ladies gave the gentlemen permission to smoke--Don Pedro

felt very happy and easy, and complimented Mrs. Jasher warmly on her

capability of making her fellow-creatures comfortable.