Chapter 12: The Echo of a Laugh

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌⁠Colonel McIntyre tramped the deserted dining room in exasperation. Nine o'clock and the twins had not come to breakfast, nor was there any evidence that Mrs. Brewster intended taking that meal downstairs.

“Will you wait any longer, sir?” inquired Grimes, who hovered solicitously in the background. “I'm afraid, sir, your eggs will be over-done.”

“Bring them along,” directed McIntyre, and flung himsel