She knew the moment from which the change in her father's manner dated, but she could not speak of it even to her sister.

"Perhaps the cold weather tries him a great deal just at first; it has come so suddenly, and we are not seasoned to it yet, you know," she answered evasively.
"I hope it is only that," answered Mrs.Burton, brightening up at the suggestion.

"And really the cold has been terribly trying for the last week, though it won't seem so bad when we get used to it.
I am glad you are going with Father, though, for Miles has such a dreadful cold, poor boy." "His own fault," laughed Katherine.

"If he will go and sit in a tub half the day, in the hope of shooting swans, he must expect to get a cold." "Boys will do unwise things, I fancy.

They can't help it, so it is of no use to blame them," Mrs.Burton said with a sigh.
Katherine laughed again.