“They have all got up and left me to sleep my fatigue off, I suppose,” she said, as she left the bed and began to make her plain morning toilet.
She was soon dressed in a dark blue cashmere gown, with white linen cuffs and collar, and a black bow.
Then she went down stairs and found Mrs. Brent in the lower room, and seated before the fire engaged in carding wool.
“Good-morning, honey! You have had a real good sleep, and I hope it has done you good!” she said, rising, and placing a chair to the fire for her young guest.
“Indeed I have, Mrs. Brent; thank you. It must be very late.”
“Look at the clock, my dear. It is after ten. Well, I am glad you slept so long. I would not have disturbed you if you had slept all day. Now you are down I will get you a bit of breakfast in a few moments,” said Mrs. Brent, as she took up a tea-kettle which was sitting on the hearth before the fire, and hung it over the blaze, where it immediately began to sing for boiling.
“Has any one—I mean has Mr. Lindsay been here this morning?” inquired Gloria.
“Oh, yes, honey. Mr. Lindsay and my brother, the overseer, you know, were here by seven o’clock this morning; but Mr. Lindsay wouldn’t let you be disturbed on no account. He asked me to keep everything very quiet, so as to let you sleep as long as possible, which I am sure I have done, my dear,” replied the housekeeper while she was taking the tea-pot and the cannister from the dresser to make the tea.
“Where are they now?” inquired Gloria.
“Oh, they went right off up to the old house to open and air it. Yes, more than three hours ago,” answered the dame, as she made the tea and set it to draw.