“And on her birthday, too!” Lady Mary declared. “Young people, nowadays, are so blasé. Look at all those presents on the table for her, and here the breakfast gong has rung twice, and there is no sign of her.”
Vandermere turned to his host.
“You haven’t heard anything about that fellow Saton?” he asked. “You don’t know whether he is in the neighborhood or not?”
“I have not heard,” Rochester answered. “To tell you the truth, if he has as much sense as I believe he has, he is probably on his way to the Continent by now.”
“I have an idea, somehow,” Vandermere continued, “that Lois is afraid he’ll turn up to-day.”
“If Lois is afraid,” Rochester remarked, “let me tell you in confidence, Vandermere, that I don’t think you need be.”
“My dear girl!” Lady Mary exclaimed, looking toward the staircase. “We were just going in to breakfast without you, and on your birthday, too!”
Lois came slowly down the broad stairs into the hall. It was impossible to ignore the fact that she was pale, and that she walked as one in fear. Her eyes were sunken, and spoke of a sleepless night. Her manner was almost furtive. She scarcely glanced, even, at the little pile of packages which stood upon the table.
“How nice of you all to wait!” she said. “Good morning, everybody!”
“Good morning, and many happy returns to you!” Lady Mary called out. “Will you look at your presents now or after breakfast?”