But for once she was mistaken. The tray of food did not come from Lawdor. Nor was it the outward semblance of anybody’s kindness. The tray delivered at Helen’s door was the first result of a great fright!
At dinner the girls could not wait for their father to be seated before they began to tell him of the amazing thing that had been revealed to them that afternoon by Jessie Stone.
“Where’s Cousin Helen, Gregson?” asked Belle, before seating herself. “See that she is called. She may not have heard the gong.”
If Gregson’s face could display surprise, it displayed it then.
“Of course, dear Helen has returned; hasn’t she?” added Hortense.
“I’ll go up myself and see if she’s here,” Flossie suggested.
“Ahem!” said the surprised Mr. Starkweather.
“I listened sharply for her, but I did not hear her pass my door,” said Hortense.
“I must ask her to come back to that spare room on the lower floor,” sighed Belle. “She is too far away from the rest of the family.”
“Girls!” gasped Mr. Starkweather, at length finding speech.