Before the house was astir, Hollis found her in the kitchen; she had kindled the fire, and was filling the tea-kettle at the pump in the sink.
"Good morning, Mrs. West. Excuse my early leave; but I must meet my friends to-day."
"Hollis!"
She set the tea-kettle on the stove, and turned and looked at him. The solemn weight of her eye rooted him to the spot.
"Hollis, I've known you ever since you were born."
"And now you are going to find fault with me!" he returned, with an easy laugh.
"No, not to find fault, but to speak with great plainness. Do you see how changed Marjorie is!"
"Yes. I could not fail to notice it. Has she been ill?"
"Yes, very ill. You see the effect of something."
"But she is better. She was so bright last night."