I was the last to go down.  The bell had rung a very long while before I left my room.  I took my seat at the table without looking at any one, though, of course, every one looked at me.  My confused and rather general good-morning was returned with much precision by all.  Somebody remarked that I did not look well.  Somebody else remarked that was surely because I went to bed so early; that it never had been known to agree with any one.  Some one else wanted to know why I had gone so early, and that I had been hunted for in all directions for a dance which had been a sudden inspiration.

“But as you had gone away, and the musician could not be found, we had to give it up,” said Charlotte Benson, “and we owe you both a grudge.”

“For my part, I am very sorry,” said Mr. Langenau.  “I had no thought that you meant to dance last night, or I should have stayed at the piano; I hope you will tell me the next time.”

“The next time will be to-morrow evening,” said Mary Leighton.  “Now, Mr. Langenau, you will not forget—­or—­or get excited about anything and go away?”

I dared not look at Mr. Langenau’s face, but I am sure I should not have seen anything pleasant if I had.  I don’t know what he answered, for I was so confused, I dropped a plate of berries which I was just taking from Kilian’s hand, and made quite an uncomfortable commotion.  The berries were very ripe, and they rolled in many directions on the table-cloth, and fell on my white dress.

“Your pretty dress is ruined, I’m afraid,” said Kilian, stooping down to save it.

“I don’t care about that, but I’m very sorry that I’ve stained the table-cloth,” and I looked at Mrs. Hollenbeck as if I thought that she would scold me for it.  But she quite reassured me.  Indeed, I think she was so pleased with me, that she would not have minded seeing me ruin all the table-cloths that she had.

“But it will make you late for church, for you’ll have to change your dress,” said Charlotte Benson, practically, glancing at the clock.  I was very thankful for the suggestion, for I thought it would save me from the misery of trying to eat breakfast, but Kilian made such an outcry that I found I could not go without more comments than I liked.

“You have no appetite either,” said Mary Leighton.  “I am ashamed to eat as much as I want, for here is Mr. Langenau beside me, who has only broken a roll in two and drank a cup of coffee.”

“I am not perhaps quite used to your American way of breakfasting,” he returned quickly.

“But you ate breakfasts when we first came,” said the sweet girl gently.

“Was not the weather cooler then?” he answered, “and I have missed my walk this morning.”

“Let me give you some more coffee, at any rate,” said Sophie, with affectionate interest.  Indeed, I think at that moment she absolutely loved him.

In a few minutes I escaped from the table; when I came down from my room ready for church, I found that they were all just starting. (Richard, I suppose, would have waited for me.) The church was in the village, and not ten minutes’ walk from the house.  Kilian was carrying Mary Leighton’s prayer-book, and was evidently intending to walk with her.