"I don't suppose she envies you that job. I'm not exactly Helen's cup of tea."
"She'd never enjoy any tea--she'd always be thinking about the chips."
"Helen doesn't allow chips."
"No--she'd insist on silver--even if the pot was empty. Have some more tea. I can't help its dribbling into the saucer. It's the sign of a generous nature, or an overflowing heart, or something."
Peter accepted the tea and drank it in silence. He was still dissatisfied with himself. It was as though he had invited the woman of his choice to sit down with him at the feast of life, only to discover that his table had not been reserved for him. Men, in these mortifying circumstances, commonly find fault with the waiter, grumble at the food and irritably reject every effort to restore pleasantness to the occasion.
