CHAPTER XVI

The men of the house breakfasted at the usual hour next morning, and with them were only Aunt Lettice and 'Bitha, Mary Broughton and Dorothy being permitted to sleep until later, when 'Bitha, despatched by her grandmother, went to arouse them. She first awoke Dorothy by kissing her; then she asked with childish solicitude, "Why do you lie abed so late, Cousin Dot,--are you ill?" The big dark eyes gazed at the child in bewilderment, and then came a flash of recollection. "Ill--no. Where is Mary, and why are you her…