The Maidens of Walsingham - стр. 41

– Wash your face, and sit down to eat," Kate said to her younger sister, as she poured the porridge into bowls: the portions were larger than usual, for Kate had used the same measure of grain she had used earlier, which was for four people.

Cassie washed and dressed, sat down at the table and began to eat.

– Where's Daddy? – she asked, only now noticing that they were eating breakfast without her father.

The older sisters looked at each other.

– Father said he wouldn't have breakfast," Kate answered her, trying to be as convincing as possible.

– Why? Had he already eaten? – Cassie asked innocently, dipping her wooden spoon into the porridge.

– Yes, he ate early," Christine said, agreeing with Cassie's levity.

– Where is he? – Cassie asked again.

– He has important things to do. You remember he's very concerned about the church and the village, don't you? – Catherine answered her. – He must have gone to that beautiful Rivershold estate.

She and Cassie had seen that estate and the master's house once, but the girls had not been impressed: Catherine because of her aversion to luxury, and Cassie declared that it was a palace haunted by ghosts and an evil giant (so the boys had told her), but she was not afraid of ripping off his apple trees.

– Would he be back soon?

– Yes, of course.

– Are we going to matins?

– No, for Dad had gone, and there was no one to give it today.

Cassie looked at Catherine indifferently: she was not at all worried about her father, for she knew he would always come home.

"And maybe he'll bring something delicious! That good funny doctor always brought something delicious!" – Cassie thought happily, looking forward to her father coming home.

– And we caught a bunny yesterday: he was so cute and shook so much, but we petted him and let him out into the field. Fred said he was scared and that we were scaring him, so he ran away so fast! – Cassie said, and then went back to eating. – What delicious porridge today, Katie!

Catherine smiled, but a heavy sigh escaped from her breast: she found it hard to bear the indifference and inconsideration with which her little sister lived, and it seemed to her that she bore the pain of loss not only for herself, but also for Cassie.

– What colour was the bunny? – Christine asked, seeing Catherine's confusion.

– He was so dark, and his ears were really funny and long," Cassie said. – And the boys made up a song! Here it is: "The bunny raced across the field, the bunny ran home, and then the dog ran after him, a mean dog, a biter, and then… Oh, I forgot. – She was embarrassed and stopped talking.

Catherine stroked her head.

– And I tore my dress yesterday," she giggled.

– Again? – Christine asked unhappily, but she couldn't really be angry with her sister.

– It was an accident. Just don't tell Daddy, or he'll be upset," Cassie asked with a sweet, childish expression, not wanting to upset her father.

Christine and Catherine immediately felt tears gathering in their chests.

– He won't scold, Cassie, but we won't tell him anything if you want," Christine replied quietly.

Catherine couldn't hold back the tears that came to her eyes and threatened to flow in front of Cassie, so she got up from the table and went to the door.