t this was impossible, and the tears fell
faster still.

Where could he be? What could he be doing? Ought she to awaken her
aunt?

Kitty could not answer these self-imposed questions, and as her misery
and despair grew greater it seemed as if the morning was growing very
cold and the bricks of the houses opposite more and more obscure, and
then soon after they were quite invisible, for she saw them not.

CHAPTER NINE.

A SOCIAL THUNDERBOLT.

"Morning!" said Uncle Josiah, as, after a turn up and down the
dining-room, he saw the door open and his sister enter, looking very
pale and red-eyed. "Why, Laura, you have not been to bed."

"Yes," she said sadly. "I kept my word, and now I feel sorry that I
did, for I fell into a heavy sleep from which I did not wake till half
an hour ago."

"Glad of it," said her brother bluffly. "That's right, my dear, make
the tea; I want my breakfast, for I have plenty of work to-day."

Mrs Lavington hastily made the tea, for the urn was hissing on the
table when she came down, Uncle Josiah's orders being that it was always
to be ready at eight o'clock, and woe betide Jessie if it was not there.

"Have--have you seen Don this morning?"

"No. And when he comes down I shall not say a word. There, try and put
a better face on the matter, my dear. He will have to appear at the
magistrate's office, and there will be a few admonitions. That's all.
Isn't Kitty late?"

"Yes. Shall I send up for her?"

"No; she will be down in a few minutes, I daresay, and Lindon too."

The few minutes passed, and Uncle Josiah looked stern. Then he rang for
the servants, and his brow grew more heavy. Neither Kitty nor Lindon
down to prayers.

"Shall I send up, Josiah?"

"No; they know what time we have prayers," said the old man sternly; and
upon the servants entering he read his customary chapter and the
prayers, but no one stole in while the service was in progress, and when
it was over the old merchant looked more severe than ever.

Mrs Lavington looked more troubled as her brother grew more severe, but
she did not speak, feeling that she might make matters worse.

Just then Jessie brought in the ham and eggs, and as she took off the
cover, and Mrs Lavington began to pour out tea, the old man said
roughly,--

"Go and tell Miss Kitty to come down to breakfast directly."

The maid left the room.

"You did not send a message to Don, Josiah."

"No. I suppose his lordship was