“Is it true?” he eagerly inquired, as he joined them, and before even tendering the conventional “Good morning.”
“Thank Heaven, yes. All danger is past,” replied Britomarte.
“Has the doctor said so?”
“The doctor has not been here this morning. But it needs no doctor to tell that Erminie is raised from death,” said Elfie.
“Can I see her now?” inquired Justin.
“She knows you are here. She has asked to see you as soon as you should be up and dressed. But she is sleeping now, and so you must wait until she wakes. Meanwhile, you had better draw up your chair and take breakfast with us.”
Justin followed this advice and seated himself at the table.
Domestic affairs were administered in a very easy, not to say loose manner, since the illness of Erminie.
The members of the family and the guests came down to breakfast when they were ready, and ate it when it was prepared, without waiting for others.
Thus it happened that our family party were half through with the morning meal before Major Fielding and Captain Ethel made their appearance.