Her face was very red, but she took it--she was aware there was no other course open--divided the meat impartially, and gave each child a piece with a surreptitious thump.
Mr.Tuxbury, with a moodily knitted forehead and a smiling mouth, asked the guests miserably if they would have some veal stew.

It was perfectly evident that if they accepted, there would be nothing whatever left for the family to eat.

They declined in terrified haste; indeed, both Lois and her mother had been impelled to pass their portions of beefsteak over to the children, but they had not dared.
The children wished for veal stew also, and when they had eaten their meagre spoonfuls, clamored persistently for more.
"There isn't any more," whispered their mother, with two little vigorous side-shakes.

"If you don't keep still, I shall take you away from the table.

Ain't you ashamed ?" Then the little girls pouted and sniffed, but warily, lest the threat be carried into effect.
The rest of the family tried to ignore the embarrassing situation and converse easily with the guests, but it was a difficult undertaking.
Lois bent miserably over her plate, and every question appeared to shock her painfully.