about their food.
Here, Mab, race me to the house."

Mabel puffed and panted after her more energetic sister. It was a very
hot morning, and it really was aggravating of Kate to fly on the wings
of the wind, and expect her to follow.

"Kate has no thought," she muttered, as she panted along. "I shall feel
hot and messy for the day now, and there's nothing nice for me to eat
when I do get in. It's all very fine to be Kate, who, I don't think, is
mortal at all about some things, but I expect I'm somewhat of a cry-baby
too, when I see all the nice appetizing food disappearing down a certain
manly throat. Hullo, what's the matter now, Kitty?"

Catherine was standing by the window of the breakfast-room waving an
open note in her hand.

"Three cheers for you, Mabel! You may be as greedy as you please. The
knight of the raspberry plantation has departed. Read this; I found it
on my plate."

Catherine was about to toss the note to Mabel, when a hand was put
quietly over her shoulder, and Mrs. Bertram took Loftus's letter to
read.

"Mother, I didn't know you were down."

"I just came in, my dear, and heard you speaking to Mabel. What is
this?"

She stood still to read the brief lines:

"Dearest Sis,--I have had a sudden recall to Portsmouth. Will
write from there. Love to the mother and Mab.--Your affectionate
brother,

"Loftus."

Mrs. Bertram looked up with a very startled expression in her eyes.

"Now, mother, there's nothing to fret you in this," said Kate, eagerly.
"Was not Loftie always the most changeable of mortals?"

"Yes, my dear, but not quite so changeable as not to know anything at
all about a recall in the afternoon yesterday, and to have to leave us
before we are out of bed in the morning. Did anybody see Loftus go? Had
he any breakfast?"

Catherine flew away to inquire of Clara, and Mabel said in an injured
voice:

"I dare say Loftie had a telegram sent to him to the club. Anyhow, he
has all the excitement and all the pleasure. I watched him through the
spy-glass last night. He was in the Bells' boat, and Beatrice was all
alone in hers. Beatrice was talking to Loftus and the boats were almost
touching. Mother, I wish we could have a boat."

"Yes, dear, I must try and manage it for you at some future time. Well,
Catherine, have you heard anything?"

"No, mother. Loftus must have gone away very, very early. No one saw him
go; he certainly had no breakfast."

Mrs. Bertram was sile