"Be quiet, Maude!" broke from Miss Chattaway. "Mamma, I wish you wouldn't worry about bed! I don't choose Maude to go up until I go. She helps me to undress."
Poor Maude looked sleepy. "I can be going on, Octave," she said to Miss Chattaway.
"You can hold your tongue and wait, and not be ungrateful," was the response of Octavia Chattaway. "But for papa's kindness, you would not have a bed to go to. Cris, you are cheating! that was not sixes!"
It was at this juncture that the awkward knock came to the door. "Come in!" cried Mrs. Chattaway.
Either her gentle voice was not heard, for Cris and his sister were disputing just then, or the boy's modesty would not allow him to respond. He knocked again.
"See who it is, Cris," came forth the ringing voice of Miss Trevlyn.
Cris did not choose to obey. "Open the door, Maude," said he.
Maude did as she was bid: she had little chance allowed her in that house of doing otherwise. Opening the door, she saw the boy standing there. "What is it, Bill?" she asked in surprise.
"Please, is the Squire there, Miss Maude?"
"No," answered Maude. "He is not well, and has gone to bed."