"I beg you will not be so hasty," said Mrs. Edwards, taking her
husband's cue, and Perez abjectly sat down again.
"You must partake of my hospitality," said Edwards. "Jonathan, draw a
decanter of that old Jamaica. Desire, bring us tumblers."
The only thought of Perez was that the liquor would, perhaps, brace
him up a little, and to that end he filled his tumbler well up and did
not refuse a second invitation. The result answered his expectations.
In a very few moments he began to feel much more at ease. The incubus
upon his faculties seemed lifted. His muscles relaxed. He recovered
the free control of his tongue and his eyes. Whereas he had previously
been only conscious of Mrs. Edwards, and but vaguely of the room in
which they were and its other inmates, he now began to look around,
and take cognizance of persons and things and even found himself
complimenting his host on the quality of the rum with an ease at which
he was surprised. He could readily have mustered courage enough now to
take his leave, but he no longer felt in haste. As I observed above,
he had heretofore but vaguely taken notice of Desire, as she had sat
silently near by. Now he became conscious of her.
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