The worst thing about Mr. Shubrick's coming was, that he must go away again! However, not yet; he would be seen at breakfast first; and to prepare breakfast was now Dolly's next care. Then she got her mother up and persuaded her to make herself nice and appear at the meal.
"You are never going to bring him down into the kitchen?" said Mrs. Copley, horrified, when she got there.
"Certainly, mother; it is no use trying to make a fuss. I cannot give him breakfast anywhere else."
"Then I would let him go to the village, Dolly, and get his breakfast there."
"But that would be very inhospitable. He was here at supper, mother; I don't think he was frightened. He knows just how we are situated."
"He doesn't know you have nobody to help you, I hope?"
"How could he help knowing it? The thing is patent. Never mind, mother; the breakfast will be good, if the breakfast-room is only so so. If you do not mind, nobody else will."
"That you should come to this!" said Mrs. Copley, sinking into a chair. "My Dolly! Doing a servant's work, and for strangers, and nobody to help or care! And what are we coming to? I don't see, for my part. You are ruined."
"Not yet," said Dolly cheerfully. "If I am, I do not feel like it. Now, mother, see if you can get Mr. Shubrick down here before my omelette is ruined; for that is the greatest danger just at present."
It was not quite easy to get Mr. Shubrick down there, however; he demurred very seriously; and I am afraid the omelette was something the worse before he came. But then the breakfast was rather gay. The watcher reported a quiet night, and as he was much inclined to think, an amended patient.