"Nonsense to have breakfast!" said Norton. "We shall be home time enough."
"But then you and Davy will have to rush right off to school. Good night."
"Good night"—said Norton, in an uncomfortable tone. And they went up to their rooms, leaving David and Mr. Richmond still shut up in the study.
It was early, dawn just breaking, when the summons came for them to get up; the dawn of a fair spring morning. What a visit it had been! Matilda thought to herself, as she dressed and put up her things in her little hand bag. And as the first sunbeams were glinting on the top of the old tower, she ran down to breakfast. Mr. Richmond gave her a very warm greeting, in his quiet way. So did David. He looked bright and well, Matilda saw at a glance. Norton had not by any means got over his discomfiture. He seemed embarrassed as well as uneasy; watched David with furtive glances, and eat his breakfast in silence. Mr. Richmond and Matilda were the talkers.
"Have you had any more difficulties about boots?" he asked in the course of the conversation. Matilda looked at him in bewilderment.
"You wrote me some time ago, on the subject of a deep question that had to do with boots."
Matilda coloured and laughed, while Norton remarked that boots were a queer subject for deep questions to have to do with.
"Deep questions can spring out of anything—out of your bread and butter," said Mr. Richmond. "How is it, Tilly, about the matter of boots?"
"I have hardly thought about it, Mr. Richmond, this long while."
"How is that?"