“O, Frank! Frank!” cried Kate, and for a long time Frank heard her sobbing at the door, and then all was still.
The dinner-bell rang just as usual.
Kate went down to her solitary dinner. There was but one plate laid at the table, and after a few minutes, Sallie, the little maid, placed the bell by her side, and left the room. This was the opportunity sought by Kate.
It took but a minute or two to secrete food enough from the table for Frank; having done which, Kate sat demurely at the dinner until a reasonable time was past, before summoning Sallie. This time she was able to secure a basket, and to rap at Frank’s window and pass it in to him.
“There was only one plate of pudding,” she said, “and that I’ve put in the basket for you; but there’s a good lot of hard sauce on it—cook knows I like hard sauce.”
“Kate,” said Frank from the window a few minutes later, “you are a brick!”
“O, Frank! you know mamma can’t bear to hear you talk that way; please don’t do it.”
“I dare say she wouldn’t bear to have you fetch me, on a broom handle, this jolly good dinner. Wish you knew how good it tastes to a fellow shut up all day. I say, Sis, help a fellow out awhile this afternoon. Fetch the light ladder; it will reach to the lower window-cap, and I can let myself down by holding fast to the blind. Do now, and I’ll see Harry if you will.”
How nice it seemed to hear Frank talk to her again, and to be called “Sis” by him, and to know that he depended on her! O, how Kate Hallock did long to run and fetch the light ladder and let him down!—but she knew she ought not to do it.
“Come, now—there’s a good Sis.”