That possibility, however, did not worry her as much as getting those packs up on the King.

How in the world would she ever do it?
She hurried back to the house, stealthily keeping to the shadow of the cottonwoods, for she would have faced an embarrassing situation if she had met her father, even had he been in a good humor.

And she reached the sitting-room unobserved.

The lamps had been lighted and a log blazed on the hearth.

She was reading when Bostil entered.
"Hello, Lucy!" he said.
He looked tired, and Lucy knew he had been drinking, because when he had been he never offered to kiss her.