Mr. Force, in fact, came home rather late that evening. Tea had been kept waiting for him so long that it was nearly nine o’clock when the family assembled around the table.
There were Mr. and Mrs. Force, Col. Anglesea, Miss Meeke, Wynnette and Elva; but there was one absentee.
“Where is Odalite?” inquired her father, looking around the table.
“She has gone to bed with a nervous headache,” replied her mother.
“Nothing serious, I hope,” said the father, uneasily.
“Oh, no, nothing at all serious,” answered the mother.
“I never knew Odalite to have a headache in her life before,” said Mr. Force.
“No, but then—
| “‘Such things must begin, some day,’” |
quoted the lady, with a forced smile.