Nobody spoke.
"Miss Foster, will you have the kindness to go up to Miss Bransome and
Miss Dunstable, and tell them we are waiting for them?"
The young lady went. Profound silence. Then appeared, after some delay, the missing members of the family; they came in and took their seats in silence.
"Good morning, young ladies!" said Mrs. Mowbray. "Have you slept well?"
"Quite well, madame,"—one of them answered, making an expressive facial sign to her neighbours on the other side, which Rotha saw and greatly resented.
"So well that you did not hear the bell?" Mrs. Mowbray went on.
Silence.
"Answer, if you please. Did you hear the bell?"
"I did, madame," came in faint tones from one of the young ladies; and a still more smothered affirmative from the other.
"Then why were you late?"