There was a moment of dead silence in the room. Usually the two inexperienced young housekeepers sought to hustle their restless, boisterous brood into bed as soon as the evening meal had ended and the night's chores were done. What had come over her to suggest such a thing as an evening stroll, or climb, as it would be if they went up to the peak? Susie looked at Tabitha with incredulous eyes, then glanced questioningly at Mercedes, but the older sister was as much mystified as were the rest.
"Do you mean that, or are you joking?" demanded Irene bluntly.
"I mean it," replied Tabitha calmly, though her face flushed uncomfortably under the surprised stare of eight pair of eyes.
"You usually chase us off to bed, you know," said Susie, still wondering what the unexpected proposal meant.
"Well, it is such a lovely night, I thought it would be fun to follow the trail to the top of the mountain, and watch the moon come up."
"And tell stories?" breathed Irene, clasping her hands ecstatically.
"Yes, if you wish," laughed the senior housekeeper.
"And speak pieces!" cried Mercedes, who was never tired of hearing Tabitha recite.
"Perhaps."
"And sing songs," suggested Rosslyn, who loved to listen to Gloriana's rich, sweet voice carolling joyous lays or softly crooning lullabyes.