"That perforce starves the rest of us until mid-morning.

Eheu! It is the one injustice in this house." Laodice dumbly wondered if she were to be classed with the house servants while she waited until the return of her devoted old mute.
She was led into a long narrow room, showing the same simple elegance that marked all the house of Amaryllis, the Greek.

Down the center were two tables, separated by a cluster of tall plants that almost screened one from the other.
At the first table place was laid for one.

At the other, she found by the talk and laughter the rest of the company were gathered.

The little girl led Laodice to the single place, seated her, and kissing her hand to her with an almost too-practised bow, fled around the cluster of tall plants.