"Come, Maria," he growled, "are we never to have any--Ah, my dear, you down to breakfast! This makes up for a wet morning," and he met and kissed his niece, drew her hand under his arm, and led her to a chair on the side of the table nearest the fire. "That's your place, my dear, and it has looked very blank for the past fortnight. Very, very glad to see you fill it again. I say," he continued, chuckling and rubbing his hands, "you're quite looking yourself again." "Yes," said Mrs Wilton, "but you needn't keep all the good mornings and kisses for Kitty. Ah, it's very nice to be young and pretty, but if Uncle's going to pet you like this I shall grow quite jealous." This with a good many meaning nods and smiles at her niece, as she took her place at the table behind the hissing urn. "You've been too much petted, Maria. It makes you grow too plump and rosy." "James, my dear, you shouldn't." "Oh, yes, I should," said her husband, chuckling. "I know Kitty has noticed it. But is that boy coming in to breakfast?" "Yes, yes, yes, my dear; but don't shout so. You quite startle dear Kitty. Recollect, please, that she is an invalid." "Bah! Not she. Going to be quite well again directly, and come for rides and drives with me to the farms. Aren't you, my dear?" "I shall be very pleased to, Uncle--soon." "That's right. We'll soon have some roses among the lilies. Ha! ha! You must steal some of your aunt's. Got too many in her cheeks, hasn't she, my dear--Damask, but we want maiden blush, eh?" "Do be quiet, James. You really shouldn't." "Where is Claud? He must have heard the bell." "Oh, yes, and he, came and called Kitty. He has only gone to change his wet boots." "Wet boots! Why, he wasn't down till nine. Oh, here you are, sir. Come along." "Did you change your boots, Claud?" "No, mother," said that gentleman, seating himself opposite Kate. "But you should, my dear." Wilton gave his niece a merry look and a nod, which was intended to mean, "You attend to me." "Yes, you should, my dear," he went on, imitating his wife's manner; "and why don't you put on goloshes when you go out?" Claud stared at his father, and looked as if he thought he was a little touched mentally. "Isn't it disgusting, Kitty, my dear?" said Wilton. "She'd wrap him up in a flannel and feed him with a spoon if she had her way with the great strong hulking fellow." "Don't you take any notice of your uncle's nonsense, my dear. Claud, my love, will you take Kitty's cup to her?" "She'd make a regular molly-coddle of him. And we don't want doctoring here. Had enough of that the past fortnight. I say, you're going to throw Leigh overboard this morning. Don't want him any more, do you?" "Oh, no, I shall be quite well now." "Yes," said her uncle, with a knowing look. "Don't you have any more of it. And I say, you'll have to pay his long bill for jalap and pilly coshy. That is if you can afford it."