CHAPTER VIII 90
" But you two are my visitors to-night ; I must treat you as such ." She rang her bell .
" Barbara ," she said to the servant who answered it , " I have not yet had tea ; bring the tray and place cups for these two young ladies ."
And a tray was soon brought . How pretty , to my eyes , did the china cups and bright teapot look , placed on the little round table near the fire ! How fragrant was the steam of the beverage , and the scent of the toast ! of which , however , I , to my dismay ( for I was beginning to be hungry ) discerned only a very small portion : Miss Temple discerned it too .
" Barbara ," said she , " can you not bring a little more bread and butter ? There is not enough for three ."
Barbara went out : she returned soon - " Madam , Mrs . Harden says she has sent up the usual quantity ."
Mrs . Harden , be it observed , was the housekeeper : a woman after Mr . Brocklehurst ' s own heart , made up of equal parts of whalebone and iron .
" Oh , very well !" returned Miss Temple ; " we must make it do , Barbara , I suppose ." And as the girl withdrew she added , smiling , " Fortunately , I have it in my power to supply deficiencies for this once ."
Having invited Helen and me to approach the table , and placed before each of us a cup of tea with one delicious but thin morsel of toast , she got up , unlocked a drawer , and taking from it a parcel wrapped in paper , disclosed presently to our eyes a good-sized seed-cake .
" I meant to give each of you some of this to take with you ," said she , " but as there is so little toast , you must have it now ," and she proceeded to cut slices with a generous hand .