kind of training had that girl anyhow? He had been sitting here twenty minutes and she'd never offered him the morning paper and hadn't asked his choice in cereals at all. He'd have to speak to Helen about it. No, there wasn't any sense in that. He'd forgotten for a moment that he'd probably not be coming here any more. If Helen would stop reading he'd tell her right now about Lillian, but there wasn't any use in interrupting her. That might make her mad.
Nellie came to the French doors and announced breakfast. Hubert arose, and Helen, leaving the paper on her chair, said, "Thank you, Nellie," and swept toward the dining-room. She and Hubert collided at the threshold. Helen stepped back and said to him, "Pardon me. By all means precede me." He let her go first, then, but it was nice to know that despite Nellie's actions, Helen knew who was master of the house.
It seemed silly to start talking about Lillian the minute they sat down; so Hubert decided that when he finished his grapefruit he would begin. But Nellie appeared then and he thought perhaps he'd better wait till she had brought the cereal and gone again to the kitchen. It occurred to him, though, that she'd have to return for the cereal plates and to bring the eggs, and that would be the best time, when she had completely finished serving and he and Helen would be left alone.
No sooner had the bacon and eggs been served and Nellie back in her own domain than Helen spoke.
"Did Mr. Flynn give you today off?" she asked.
In his deep absorption in other matters Hubert had entirely forgotten Steve Flynn and the mythical job.
