“I know, my dear. You girls don’t exactly need any beauty sleep,” and she beamed at the four pretty faces that smiled back at her, “but you must have been tired after your trip. I don’t in the least mind.”
“You’ll find us quite energetic after this,” predicted Belle. “That is all but my sister, and you see she is——”
“Belle Robinson! If you talk about me that way I’ll—I’ll—— Oh! why do you all poke fun at me?” and Bess seemed quite distressed.
“I won’t any more,” promised Belle. “She is trying to ‘reduce’” she added to Mrs. Floyd, “so let her do all the work she wants to. We shan’t stop her.”
“What’s the program to-day?” asked Hazel, as the girls finished their coffee. “It is perfectly glorious outside. From my window I can see part of the fall. It’s beautiful. I could sit and look at it forever.”
“And not want anybody to share the view?” asked Cora, pinching her blushing cheek.
“The witness refuses to answer,” mocked Belle. “But we mustn’t dawdle here all day. Let’s go and get dressed, and by then——”
There came a knock at the door.
“May we come in?” asked Walter.
“We—want—our—breakfast!” bawled Jack and Paul.