CHAPTER XXXIX 

UNDISTURBED LETTUCE 

When Ralph Haverley came in from his long moonlight ramble, he was so happy that he went to bed and slept as sound as rock. But before he closed his eyes he said to himself,-- 

"I will do that to-morrow; the very first thing to-morrow." 

But people do not always do what they intend to do the very first thing in the morning, and this was the case with Ralph. La Fleur, who knew that a letter was expected, sent Mike early to the post-office, and soon after breakfast Ralph had a letter from Miriam. It was a long one; it gave a full account of the drowning accident and of some of her own experiences, but it said not one word of the message sent by Miss Panney, to whom Miriam alluded very slightly. It gave, however, the important information that Mrs. Bannister had been so affected by the dreadful scene on the beach that she declared she could not go into the ocean again, nor even bear the sight of it, and that, therefore, they were all coming home on the morrow. 

"She will be here to-night," said Ralph, who knew the trains from Barport. 

As soon as he had read the letter Ralph went to look for Cicely. She had come down late to breakfast, and he had been surprised at her soberness of manner. On the other hand, Mrs. Drane had been surprised at Ralph's soberness of manner, and she found herself in the unusual position of the liveliest person at the breakfast table. 
Who knew that a letter was coming?
Who'd he send to the post office?
Who was Ralph's letter from?
Was it long or short?
What did it give an account of?
And what else?
Did it mention Panney's message?
From where were the trains?
Who did Ralph go searching for?
What had she been tardy for?
Did she act seriously at the time?
Who was the liveliest person at the table?
What is Ralph's last name?
Had he come in from something at the beginning?
What?
Was he in a good mood then?
What did he do after coming in?
How did he sleep?
La Fleur
La Fleur
Mike
 Mike
Miriam
 Miriam
long
long 
the drowning accident
the drowning accident
some of her own experiences
some of her own experiences
no
not one word
Barport
Barport
Cicely
Cicely
breakfast
breakfast
no
she found herself in the unusual position of the liveliest person at the breakfast table.
Mrs. Drane
Mrs. Drane
Haverley
Haverley 
yes
 came in from his long moonlight ramble
long moonlight ramble
long moonlight ramble
yes
he was so happy
went to bed
went to bed
as sound as rock
as sound as rock