He really needs a holiday more than do any of you." "Father looks ill!" gasped Kitty.

It was the first hint she had had of any such thing, and a sudden cold fear filled her heart.

She forgot her dislike of Lady Kitson and Lettice, and the wrong they had done her.
"Is father really ill, Lady Kitson ?" she asked anxiously, leaning towards her.

"He has never mentioned it to me, nor has Aunt Pike." "He is too good and unselfish to complain," said Lady Kitson coldly.
"You should use your own eyes, and not wait for him to _tell_ you he is ill.

He has not actually told _me_ that he is, but I can see that he looks overworked and unwell, and certainly not fit to battle with a houseful of noisy, restless boys and girls." "Of course we shouldn't be noisy if father was not well," said Kitty, with quiet dignity.