"Yes, but Harrison says that she said she was not, but had been sent, because that little girl was ill from starving and couldn't come. And then just as I was going down-stairs, I heard mother call out, and nurse and I rushed down and found her fainting. And we were so frightened that no one remembered anything more about the little girl, until mother began to ask for her, and then we found that she was gone."
"Josie, don't call her 'the little girl!' She is Vi—your own little sister Vi," said Mrs. Therlock feverishly.
"Did she leave the basket?" asked Leveson.
"No, that was taken," said Josie. "I suppose she was so hungry that she didn't forget it in her fright. Do you think she really can be Vi?"
"It is," said Mrs. Therlock. "I cannot bear any doubts. I can't bear them, Leveson. Only find her for me."
"You cannot tell me anything more about her?" said Leveson. "A friend of the other child's, did you say, Josie?"
"I only know she was sent by her," said Josie. "That is all. But if you could find the other child, you could find her—Vi, I mean," she added, with a frightened glance at her mother.
"What is the other's name?"
"I don't know. I never thought of asking. It was so stupid, but nurse scolded, and that put it out of my head. Oh, Leveson, only think, if I had stopped that day we were going to Hampton Court, I might—"
"Hush, never mind now," said Leveson in a low voice, with a look which Josie understood. "Did you ask where she lived?"