Free At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon Page A

of sherry.
    Miss Rose was wearing lisle stockings rolled below her knees, a pair of unlaced saddle oxfords, three World War II decorations on the front of her dress, a great deal of rouge, and a cocktail hat with a veil.
    Uncle Billy had on a suit that had belonged to his brother-in-law, with a vest and a gold watch chain. A broad grin revealed his gold tooth, which coordinated handsomely.
    “Emma, Hoppy, have a chair,” said their host, as serene as a cherub. “And will you have a glass of sherry?”
    “Make it a double,” said the astounded Emma.
    Miss Sadie arrived with Hal and Marge, who had fetched her down from Fernbank.
    She carried a small shopping bag that contained several items for her rector’s freezer: two Swanson’s chicken pies, one package of Sarah Lee fruit turnovers, and a box of Eggos. This was what Miss Sadie considered a proper hostess gift when the Baxter apples were not in season.
    Marge was busy hugging one and all, including Miss Rose, who did not relish a hug.
    Hal was talking with Hoppy and Uncle Billy about baseball, and Miss Sadie was chattering with Emma.
    Why, it’s a real celebration already, the rector thought happily, seeing two golden finches dart toward the feeder.
    “Miss Sadie, your apple trees have been the prettiest I’ve ever seen,” Marge said, taking a glass of mineral water from her host.
    “Do you know carloads of people have driven by the orchards this year? They’ve been a regular tourist attraction! And somebody from over at Wesley stopped to ask if they could get married under the trees that back up to Church Hill.”
    “What did you say?”
    “I said when do you think it might be, and she said she didn’t know, he hadn’t asked her yet!”
    Their host brought in a tray of cheese and crackers. He refused to serve anything that had to be dipped. He thought dipping at parties was perilous, to say the very least. If you didn’t drip dip on yourself, you were likely to drip it on someone else. He’d once had a long conversation with his new bishop, only to look down afterward and discover that his shirt front displayed a regular assortment of the stuff, including bacon and onion.
    That he did not serve dip seemed especially convenient for Miss Rose, who took two of everything offered, eating one and putting the other in her dress pocket. Uncle Billy, on the other hand, took two of everything and ate both at once.
    As he passed around the mushrooms in puff pastry, Miss Sadie was admiring Miss Rose’s military decorations.
    He had to admit that he’d never given a party quite like this.
    The Company Stew, which had simmered with the peel of an orange and a red onion stuck with cloves, was a rousing success. In fact, he was so delighted with the whole affair that he relented and let Barnabas into the study after dinner.
    Marge helped serve coffee and triple-layer cake from the old highboy, as the scent of roses drifted through the open windows.
    Barnabas, meanwhile, was a model of decorum and lay next to his master’s wing chair, occasionally wagging his tail.
    “You must have quoted this dog the whole book of Deuteronomy,” said Emma, who still refused to call him by name.
    “This dog,” he said crisply, “is grounded.”
    “Uh oh,” said Hal. “I guess that means no TV for a week?”
    "No TV, no pizza, no talking on the phone.”
    “Ogre!” said Marge.
    “What did the big guy do, anyway?” Hoppy wondered, leaning over to scratch Barnabas behind the ears.
    “I’m afraid it’s unspeakable, actually.”
    “Oh, good!” exclaimed Miss Sadie. “Then tell us everything.”
    Miss Sadie enjoyed the bath story so much, she brought out a lace handkerchief to wipe her eyes.
    Miss Rose, however, was not amused. “I leave dogs alone.”
    “Nope, dogs leave you alone,” said her husband.
    “Whatever,” said Miss Rose, with a wave of her hand.
    Hoppy set his dessert plate on the hearth, then leaned back and stretched his long legs. He looked fondly at his