"Aren't you coming, Kitty?" called Molly, in her pleasant voice.
Kate turned slowly and seated herself at the breakfast-table. Her face was very white, and there were black shadows round her eyes.
"I say, Kitty, you don't look a bit like yourself," said Jimmy, giving her one of his particularly keen glances.
"I am really quite well," answered Kate; "I mean to go out for a long walk after breakfast."
"What, in this rain?" exclaimed all the others.
"You forget that an Irish girl never fears the rain."
"It does rain always in Ireland, doesn't it?" asked Charlie, in an impertinent voice.
"Always, except when it is fine," replied Kate calmly. "Pass me the toast, please, Jimmy. Yes, I am going out. I enjoy walking in the rain; I love, beyond all things, watching a great gale of wind."
"Well, I won't go with you," said Cecil.
"I will," said Maurice, "if I may."