It was thus that Eudora found them as she entered the room with an early morning cup of chocolate.
“You’re laughin’, Miss Serena?” she asked suspiciously, as if she thought that her ears and eyes might be deceiving her.
“Yes, laughing, Eudora. It’s better than crying.”
“I am glad you find somethin’ to laugh at,” Eudora muttered in a tone of gloom.
“If crying would help matters, Eudora,” Serena replied, sitting down on the side of the bed and picking up her cup of chocolate, “I would cry. Besides, we have yet to know the worst.”
“That is true,” Eudora sighed. “His Lordship returns today?”
“He said so,” Serena replied. “We had better have a good luncheon prepared in case he arrives this morning.”
“There is little enough in the house.”
“There is the ham we were keeping for Michaelmas,
