“There is Mr. Merritt now!” exclaimed Owlet, as the lawyer came in, and, without any ceremony, took a seat at the same table with them, saying:
“Good-morning, my dear. Good-morning, Miss Catherine. I have come to breakfast with you.”
“We are very glad to see you, I am sure. Are we not, Owlet?” Roma said, shaking hands with her old friend.
“He knows we are. It’s no use telling him,” the child added.
“Fact is, Roma, I had no appetite at the early hour at which I ordered the carriage, but thought I should get one by the time I had driven from one end of the city to the other, and I have. Ah! here’s Tom! What have you to serve up to us in the way of new luxuries? Fresh shad, by the powers! And fine strawberries! I am glad I came.”
There was no one else in the dining-room at this early hour but our party, so not only could Tom give them his undivided attention, but Lucy came in on every excusable occasion for the sake of seeing and speaking with her own young mistress as often as possible.
When breakfast was over the lady and child once more took leave of their colored friends and went out, attended by the lawyer, who placed them in the carriage, where they found their effects placed by the careful hands of Tom.
Half an hour’s drive brought them to the Baltimore & Ohio Railway depot, where they found the train for the west almost ready to start.
Mr. Merritt saw Roma and Owlet comfortably seated in a drawing-room car, and there took an affectionate leave of them.