She followed into the dining-room at the heels of the
housemaid, and stood by the side of her father, her plate well
behind her.
"Well, my little maid, won't you shake hands with me? What is
your name?" said Colonel Bryant, tapping her cheek playfully.
Nell looked up with shy, lovely eyes.
"Elinor Woolcot, but they call me Nell," she said, holding out
her left hand, since her right was occupied with the plate.
"What a little barbarian you are, Nell!" laughed her father; but
he gave her a quick, annoyed glance. "Where is your right hand?"
She drew it slowly from behind and held out the cracked old plate.
"I thought perhaps you would give me some fowl too," she said--
"just a leg or a wing, or bit of breast would do."
The Captain's brow darkened. "What is the meaning of this? Pip
has just been to me, too. Have you nothing to eat in the
nursery?"
"Only bread and butter, very thick," sighed Nellie.
Esther suppressed a smile with difficulty.
"But you had dinner, all of you, at one o'clock."
"Boiled mutton and carrots and rice pudding," said Nell mournfully.
Captain Woolcot severed a leg almost savagely and put it on her
plate.
"Now run away; I don't know what has possessed you two to-night.
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