When morning came, she was almost afraid to go down to breakfast and face her father; but when the bell rang, and she did descend, her father was not there.
Ogden came in with his master's excuses--Captain Danton was very busy, and would breakfast in his study.

The news took away Rose's morning appetite; she sat crumbling her roll on her plate, and feeling that Ogden had told him, and that that was the cause of his non-appearance.
As they rose from the table, Ogden entered again, bowed gravely to Rose, and informed her she was wanted in the study.
Kate looked at her sister in surprise, and noticed with wonder her changing face.

But Rose, without a word, followed the valet, her heart throbbing faster than it had throbbed last night.
Captain Danton was pacing up and down his study when she entered, with the sternest face she had ever seen him wear.

In silence he pointed to a seat, continuing his walk; his daughter sat down, pale, but otherwise dauntless.
"Rose!" he said, stopping before her, "what took you into Mr.Richards' rooms last night ?" "Curiosity, papa," replied Rose, readily, but in secret quaking.
"Do you know you did a very mean act?
Do you know you were playing the spy ?" The colour rushed to Rose's face, and her head dropped.
"You knew you were forbidden to enter there; you knew you were prying into what was no affair of yours; you knew you were doing wrong, and would displease me; and yet in the face of all this, you deliberately stole into his room like a spy, like a thief, to discover for yourself.
Rose Danton, I am ashamed of you!" Rose burst out crying.

Her father was very angry, and deeply mortified; and Rose really was very fond of her indulgent father.
"Oh, papa! I didn't mean--I never thought--oh, please, papa, forgive me!" Captain Danton resumed his walk up and down, his anger softened at the sight of her distress.
"Is it the first time this has occurred ?" he asked, stopping again; "the truth, Rose, I can forgive anything but a lie." "Yes, papa." "You never have been there before ?" "No, never!" Again he resumed his walk, and again he stopped before her.
"Why did you go last night ?" "I couldn't sleep, papa.