"I am to come to you again on Thursday," she said. "Very well, I will try to be prompt. The children must be tired of waiting. If you are willing, I'll bid you 'Good afternoon' here, and go out by the side door with them."
Without waiting for him to reply, she had hastened to the smaller room, only to find that it was empty.
She was not at all frightened.
Her first thought was that the long afternoon had been tedious, and they had gone home.
"I shall find them on the piazza waiting for me," she said. "Rose would have asked if she might go, but I had told her not to interrupt while he was painting."
Gentle Aunt Lois had no thought of being angry. Instead, she was sorry that the hours had dragged so heavily for Rose and Polly.
She purchased two fine boxes of candy, smiling as she walked along with her parcel, that was to be a surprise.
She walked slowly because she was very tired. She wondered that Rose did not run to greet her.
"Where are the children?" she asked, as the maid opened the door.
"Sure, they've not been home since they went out with you," said the maid.