The bread was nearly gone now.
“Did you run away this morning?”
Mr. Brooks was cutting another slice.
“No, I stayed there last night.”
“You stayed there all last night? Child! I should think you would have frozen. There was frost last night.”
“I did freeze,” said Clematis, beginning on the second slice.
Mr. Brooks looked at her a moment in silence, while she ate.
“I never heard anything to beat that,” he said at last, as he reached once more for the bread.
“Mrs. Alder will be very anxious.”
Clematis shook her head.