Page 295 - sons-and-lovers

‘I don’t see why you should. I have plenty of meals
there.’
‘You do.’
‘Then why do you begrudge them tea?’
‘I begrudge whom tea?’
‘What are you so horrid for?’
‘Oh, say no more! You’ve asked her to tea, it’s quite suf-
ficient. She’ll come.’
He was very angry with his mother. He knew it was
merely Miriam she objected to. He flung off his boots and
went to bed.
Paul went to meet his friends the next afternoon. He was
glad to see them coming. They arrived home at about four
o’clock. Everywhere was clean and still for Sunday after-
noon. Mrs. Morel sat in her black dress and black apron. She
rose to meet the visitors. With Edgar she was cordial, but
with Miriam cold and rather grudging. Yet Paul thought
the girl looked so nice in her brown cashmere frock.
He helped his mother to get the tea ready. Miriam would
have gladly proffered, but was afraid. He was rather proud
of his home. There was about it now, he thought, a certain
distinction. The chairs were only wooden, and the sofa was
old. But the hearthrug and cushions were cosy; the pictures
were prints in good taste; there was a simplicity in every-
thing, and plenty of books. He was never ashamed in the
least of his home, nor was Miriam of hers, because both were
what they should be, and warm. And then he was proud of
the table; the china was pretty, the cloth was fine. It did not
matter that the spoons were not silver nor the knives ivory-

Sons and Lovers