"Why, I hope you have not waited breakfast for me all this time!" exclaimed Alden, in a tone of regret.
"I have not waited very long. And if I must confess the fault, I have not been up very long myself."
"Ah!" laughed Alden Lytton. "So somebody else overslept herself!"
"Yes; ''tis true, 'tis pity, and pity 'tis 'tis true!'"
"You must be hungry, however. I will ring and order breakfast directly."
"No, please don't. It will take too much time. For once we will go down in the dining-room and get our breakfast."
"As you please," said Alden Lytton, as he arose to attend her down-stairs.
The guests had nearly all left the dining-room, so there were waiters enough at leisure to attend to these late arrivals; and it followed, of course, that they had not long to wait for their coffee and rolls.
They did not tarry over their meal. Both were in a hurry.
"I should have been at the law publisher's two hours ago," said Alden.