'You can puzzle him just as well after knowing the fact, as before,' Rollo said, with perfect gravity.
'Well,' said Hazel, pulling a grape from the bunch. 'Perhaps my misleading powers may be equal to that. This one is quite good—and not at all sour,' she added, with a flash of her eyes—which, however, went to Mrs. Bywank. 'What do you want, Dingee?'
Dingee advanced and laid a card on the table.
'Say I am at breakfast. I cannot be expected to keep awake all night and all day too.'
'Permit me to inquire,' said Rollo, as he also attacked the grapes, but not looking at them, 'whether you did your share of growling this morning? I am sure no one had more cause.'
'No,' said the girl, laughing. 'I feel that I have a great reserve in store for somebody. Well, Dingee?'
A card with a written message this time. Hazel looked at it, drew her brows together, and, seizing a pencil, wrote a vigorous 'No,' across the lines.
'For somebody,' Rollo repeated. 'I am not sure that we got hold of the right delinquent. After all, peaches are the best thing after waffles and coffee. Try that.' And he placed a fine one alongside of Wych Hazel's plate.
'The thing is,' said Hazel, 'that unless you can growl with authority, nobody marks you.'
'General Merrick and Major Seaton, Missee Hazel, ma'am,' said her dark retainer, coming back.