The servant looked very much amused at this new departure, while Bertha appeared speechless from astonishment.
She had never been dealt with in this manner before, and did not exactly know how to meet such treatment.
Violet was assured, and indeed Mr. Lawrence had told her, that Bertha was a perfectly well child; therefore, she thought it would do her no harm to fast, and she was not at all troubled by her refusal to eat, at least not more so than what the unpleasant occurrence caused her to feel.
She proceeded quietly with her own employment, talking a little now and then with Mary, but not once addressing Bertha.
When she finished her meal, she asked, as a matter of form merely:
"Bertha, is there anything you would like from the table before Mary removes the service?"
"No; I want my oysters," was the pouting reply.
"Very well; then, Mary, you may take the things away, and you can tell the cook that we will have the broiled oysters to-morrow morning," Violet said, composedly.
Bertha lifted her head, a look of blank dismay written on every feature. Her face flushed an angry red, but apparently she did not know just what to do under the circumstances, and so continued to remain sulkily silent.
She was too proud and obstinate to succumb and eat anything, although the cravings of her healthful appetite were making themselves keenly felt, and so the tempting breakfast was removed.