“He is in bed,” she said.
“Is he ill?”
“He looked very tired and ate no dinner. I was to tell you if you came that he had to get a big sleep on account of something that will happen tomorrow.”
I was holding my hat. Natalie looked at it.
“My beautiful sister is not at home,” she said.
“Tell her I was desolate.”
“And that you did not ask for her?” she suggested, slyly.
“Now, Natalie, you are teasing me.”
“Mamma is out. Gram’ma’s gone to bed. There’s nobody to entertain you,” she said, shaking her head.
“What a dreary state of things!” I said, laughing at her and putting down my hat.