February 28. Saturday Evening.
SCHOOLROOM tea was nearly over to-day, when Denham dashed in and took his place. There had been no further question as to patronage of the teapot, which fell to me naturally, though I caught a glowering glance now and then from the two youngest, as they clung to Miss Millington with vehement demonstrations of affection, interlarding their talk with "sweets" and "lovies" innumerable.
"Where have you been all this time?" Nona asked.
"Oh, only round to the Cottage," Denham answered. "No, not bread-and-butter. Cake, please,—and a jolly big piece, for I'm ravenous. There's a note from Nellie to Gladys, inside father's, and he thought she'd want it directly. Gladys said she would tell us this evening if there was any news."
"Has father heard from mother?" cried the chorus.
Denham nodded, his mouth being full.
"And Maggie?"
The boy shook his head.
"Nobody else except father?"
"Only a note to Gladys. Maggie is to hear next."