"No," the little girl replied, tears of mortification filling her eyes, "we always have breakfast with mother."
"At what hour, may I inquire?" Sir Richard questioned with an affectation of politeness.
Before Ruth could reply, however, Mrs. Compton hurriedly entered the room. She kissed her father, and sitting down at the table, apologised for being late, adding that she had been very tired the previous night, and had overslept herself. He appeared slightly mollified on hearing this, and the meal proceeded more happily. The children sat by in silence, whilst their elders talked on indifferent subjects. At last their grandfather made a statement which aroused their interest.
"Children, your cousin will be here to-day. I expect you to be kind and friendly to him. Do you understand?"
"Yes, grandfather," responded two meek voices.
"You have not yet told me what you think of the boy, father," Mrs. Compton said, with decided curiosity in her voice. "Is he like my brother or—her?"
"He is like your brother; and there is a look about him of Paul Gidley the martyr," Sir Richard answered briefly.
"Oh!" Mrs. Compton looked thoughtful. "And you are satisfied with him?" she inquired.
"Yes; perfectly satisfied. I wish he was stronger; but Dr. Warren assures me he will improve in health—in fact, I can see a marked change for the better in the child since his arrival in England, I am sure he has grown these last few weeks, and he looks stronger and healthier altogether than he did at first."
"I wonder his mother was satisfied to send him to England alone. Is it not strange she did not accompany him? I am sure nothing would induce me to part with my darlings like that!"