Out in the hall an angry voice was suddenly heard. It was a woman's voice pitched high.
“I tell yez, I'll have the law on thim! It's toime somebody was afther doin' on't, an' it's up to me, with me poor Sal lyin' in the hospital! The one that owns this house is a murdherer! I'll tell yez, it's the truth!”
Gloria was standing with eyes wide opened and face flushed. She drew a quick breath of relief as she heard the voice of the District Nurse.
“Oh, hush! Do hush!” the District Nurse pleaded, and there seemed an agony of fear mingled with the words.
Then came in still angrier tones:
“Hush, is it! Oh, yes, it's hush wid you as wid them all! I tell yez I'll have the law! I'll foind the murdherin' crachure before I'm a day older! You needn't be hushin' av me up! I'm goin' now; it's toime somebody wint!”
Gloria heard the shuffling of the angry woman's feet, but the nurse evidently followed her, as she did not enter the room.
CHAPTER VI.
It was on the day of Gloria's visit with the District Nurse that Mr. McAndrew came home to luncheon, which was rather an unusual proceeding for the busy attorney during hot weather. Mrs. McAndrew, seated with her mending on the shady piazza, could see a worried expression upon her husband's face even before he reached the steps.
“Something is the matter,” she said, rising hastily, while spools and scissors fell upon the cat dozing near. “Something is the matter or he would never have come home in this boiling sun.”