"You are sure you can hear the bell?"

"Oh, yes, my hearin' ain't repaired in the least, ma'am." Susan turned
her back and picked up another dish. Plainly, for Susan, the matter
was closed.

Mrs. Colebrook, after a vexed biting of her lip and a frowning glance
toward Susan's substantial back, shrugged her shoulders and left the
kitchen. A minute later, still hatless, she crossed the yard and
entered the McGuires' side door.

"Take the air, indeed!" muttered Susan, watching from the kitchen
window. "A whole lot of fresh air she'll get in Mis' McGuire's
kitchen!"

With another glance to make sure that Mrs. Nettie Colebrook was safely
behind the McGuires' closed door, Susan crossed the kitchen and lifted
the napkin of the breakfast tray.

"Humph!" she grunted angrily, surveying the almost untouched
breakfast. "I thought as much! But I was ready for you, my lady. Toast
an' oatmeal, indeed!" With another glance over her shoulder at the
McGuire side door Susan strode to the stove and took from the oven a
plate of crisply browned hash and a hot corn muffin. Two minutes
later, with a wonderfully appetizing-looking tray, she tapped at
Keith's door and entered the room.

"Here's your breakfast, boy," she announced cheerily.

"I didn't want any breakfast," came crossly from the bed.