"All right, old woman; I'm awake now."
"Really, John?" asked Agnes.
"Really," said John; and she heard a bump on the floor, and a pattering across the room.
She flew back, for if those feet were by chance Hugh's, a wet sponge would probably be trickling down her neck before she had time to escape.
She had waked with the heartache, but her brothers' cheerful laughter had turned her thoughts, and as she dressed, though she considered soberly her responsibility as head of the house, yet it was trustfully too, and the remembrance of the great joy which John's words yesterday had brought her, made her so glad, that she felt ashamed of being dull or mopish because her parents were gone.
So she went downstairs, looking as bright as if no weight of care overshadowed her.
"This is our first day alone," she remarked as they sat at breakfast, "for I do not count yesterday anything, because we went out to dinner."
"I like going to grandmama's," said Hugh, "for she always makes us jolly comfortable."
"That's Hugh's idea of bliss," said Alice mischievously, "nothing to do—and plenty to eat."
"Oh, Alice!" exclaimed Agnes, shocked.