CHAPTER NINE
The morning after dawned sunless and chill. The sky was a pale leaden, below which darker masses of clouds scurried. The wind blew strong, steady, resistless. At breakfast they all sat shivering.
“Have Pete start fires,” said King William to Charlotte, “and you had better move Mrs. Garnier over to my room before night.” For there were not fire-places in all the rooms.
It was a dreary morning every way. The breakfast was poor and scant. Aunt Mandy defended herself. “Ev’y thing done give out,” she declared. “Mis’ Charlotte been so occapied she done forgot to order things f’om town.”
Convicted, Charlotte looked at Willy, then hastily took the defensive. “Mandy ought to have reminded me,” she declared.
“No, ma’am,” responded Mandy. “I done quit this thing uv tellin’ an’ havin’ you say things give out too soon.”
Willy sat stony. The Captain shivered. One realized all at once that he was an old man. “The thermometer is at forty-six, King,” he remarked.
“Yes,” said the son, “and falling.”