He went downstairs to the ladies’ parlor, where he found a large party waiting for him—Odalite, Elva, Wynnette, Mrs. Hedge, Miss Grandiere, Miss Bayard, Rosemary, Capt. Gideon and young Sam.
He bowed as he entered the room, where he was promptly met by Wynnette, who at once flew at him and pecked him with the words:
“Papa, you are a perfect outlaw. You were not given permission to stay more than five minutes in mamma’s room, and you have stayed—about five hours, it seems to me.”
“Oh! tut, tut, tut! What reckless exaggeration! Not half an hour, my dear,” said the squire.
“And we are all just famishing. Here are our friends from the country, too. They have got furnished apartments on E Street, but they have to come here for their meals, and they are just fainting with hunger.”
The squire thought they need not have waited for him, but might have gone down to breakfast under the escort of the old skipper, but he was too kind-hearted to say so.
“She is only teasing you, Mr. Force. She has no respect for the fourth commandment. We have but just arrived, and though we have excellent appetites for our breakfast, we are not suffering from hunger,” said Mrs. Hedge.
“I know, Wynnette,” said the chick-pecked papa. “But now we will go downstairs at once. Where is Enderby, then?”
“He went out to breakfast with a friend who has just arrived from England, but I didn’t catch his name,” replied the skipper.
“Oh, I know. Miss Sibby, will you take my arm?”