Where have you been, Katherine?
And oh, I do hope you have not frosted your face!" Mrs.Burton said, with sisterly concern.
Katherine laughed, but even Mrs.Burton noticed that the sound was strained and unmirthful.

"My complexion has not suffered, I can assure you.

But Nellie, dear, could you get a cup of hot coffee quickly for two men?
They have been having a rather terrible time of it, and are a good bit shaken." "Bring them into the kitchen and I will have the coffee ready directly," Mrs.Burton said promptly.

But first of all she just looked into her father's room to tell him there was nothing to worry about.

Then she hurried into the kitchen to rouse up the fire and put the coffee pot on to boil.
Oily Dave and Stee Jenkin accepted Katherine's invitation to walk in, following her through the dark store and into the lighted room beyond with a sheepish expression on their faces, which certainly no one had ever seen there before.