Gloria's pink china

With thanks to Martha's Vintage Attic.

There is tranquility to pink, a specific shade like the lining of a shell.  Gloria's table, set with blossom-sprigged china touched with gold was that color, as though something brighter had slipped in with the fog and grown silent.  Inside the teacups the pattern was softened further against a near-white background, cautioning, it seemed, that only hushed tones would be tolerated.  Then Mr. Apotienne laughed when he saw starfish-shaped scones dotted with golden raisins.  Pink china as a red herring.  There would be noisy and extravagant silliness at this breakfast.