"How did they get off, John?" Agnes asked, looking up as quietly as if she had been sitting there for an hour. "Very well; mother was cheerful to the last." "And they had a foot-warmer?" "Your humble servant saw to that." "And you got them something to read?" "Wouldn't have anything." "And they did not leave any more messages?" "None whatever. Now, Hugh, as Agnes has pumped me dry, let Alice take a turn at _you_!" Alice, till her brothers came in, had been leaning over the fire, deeply buried in a book and now turned round to it again, as if she would very much rather read than do anything else. Hugh seeing this, advanced a step nearer, and his eyes looked mischievous. "Well, Alice, don't perfectly smother a body with questions. One at a time. What's the first?" "I don't know; I haven't any to ask." "You mean you're too busy?" "No," answered Alice, half vexed. "Perhaps you're cold, you're such a long way off from that tiny fire!" "I'm not cold," said Alice, putting her hand up to her glowing face. "Not? Now I really thought----" But a gentle voice interrupted what was becoming too hot for poor Alice's temper, and aunt Phyllis said: "Grandmama invites you all to dinner to-day, my dears, at two o'clock; will you come?" At the word dinner Agnes started. "Oh dear, auntie, I forgot it was my duty now to see after dinner! I do not believe I should have thought of it for ever so long." "Cook would have reminded you, I dare say," said her aunt, smiling. "What are you boys going to do this morning?" asked Agnes. "I'm going to my room to have a general turn out for the holidays, and shall not be visible again till five minutes to two." "That's a good thing," said Agnes, laughing. "Your politeness is only exceeded by your truth," said John, giving his aunt a kiss, and disappearing through the door before Agnes could give him back an answer, had she wished it. "And what is Hugh going to do?" asked Miss Headley, turning to him. "Tease Alice," said Hugh, nodding towards the crouching figure by the fire. "I was going to say that I have to go to see a woman in Earl Street, and wanted you to carry my basket for me, Hugh. Can you spare time, do you think?" "All right, auntie." "Where's Hugh going?" said Minnie, sleepily, opening her eyes. "He is going out with me, darling; would you like to go too?" "I don't know; I think I'm going to sleep again." She turned her back on the room, and vouchsafed no further notice of her aunt, nor of anyone else. Agnes gave a glance of apology, but Miss Headley answered by a look that it was not needed, and in a few moments took her leave, followed by her nephew, who ran in next door for the basket, and caught her up before she had reached the corner of the street. Agnes left the room, and Alice woke up from her book to find herself alone.