It was a form of refreshment to which the female inhabitants of that delightful place were strongly addicted. In vain did Dr. Weatherby , the great authority in all that concerned the health of the neighborhood, lift up his voice against the mild feminine dram drinking of these modern days, denouncing it in no measured terms: the ladies of Oldfield listened incredulously, and, softly quoting Cowper's lines as to the cup that cheers and not inebriates, still presided over their dainty little tea tables, and vied with one another in the beauty of their china and the flavor of their highly scented Pekoe. In spite of Dr. Weatherby's sneers and innuendoes, a great deal of valuable time was spent in lingering in one or another of the pleasant drawing rooms of the place. As the magic hour approached, people dropped in casually. The elder ladies sipped their tea and gossiped softly; the younger ones, if it were summer time, strolled out through the open windows into the garden. Most of the houses had tennis grounds, and it was quite an understood thing that a game should be played before they separated.
