"Leslie never has any to-morrows, Miss Castleton," explained Vivian. "He always does to-morrow's work to-day. That's why he never has any troubles ahead of him."
"What rot!" exclaimed Leslie.
"Where is Mr. Booth?" inquired Sara. "Wouldn't he come in, Hetty?"
"I—I didn't think to ask him to stop for luncheon," she replied, and then hurried off to her room to make herself presentable.
"Don't be long," called out Sara.
"We are starving," added Vivian.
"Vivian!" exclaimed her mother, in a shocked voice.
"Well, I am," declared her daughter promptly.
"You know you NEVER eat anything in the middle of the day," said her mother, frowning. As Sara was paying no attention to their remarks, Mrs. Wrandall was obliged to deliver the supplemental explanation to Leslie, who hadn't the remotest interest in the matter. "She's so silly about getting fat."
Hetty was in a state of nervous excitement during the luncheon. The encounter with Booth had not resulted at all as she had fancied it would. She had betrayed herself in a most disconcerting manner, and now was more deeply involved than ever before. She had been determined at the outset, she had failed, and now he had a claim—an incontestable claim against her. She found it difficult to meet Sara's steady, questioning gaze. She wanted to be alone.