It seemed to me that I did not need this invitation from a servant.
‘I suppose you’ve all been fearfully upset, wondering where I was,’ I began, entering the hall.
My adventure appeared fantastically unreal to me in the presence of this buxom creature, whom I knew to be incapable of imagining anything one hundredth part so dreadful.
‘No, miss; I wasn’t upset on account of you. You’re always so sensible like. You always know what to do. I knew as you must have stopped the night with friends in Hanbridge on account of the heavy rain, and perhaps that there silly cabman not turning up, and them tramcars all crowded; and, of course, you couldn’t telegraph.’
This view that I was specially sagacious and equal to emergencies rather surprised me.
‘But auntie?’ I demanded, trembling.
‘Oh, miss!’ cried Rebecca, glancing timidly over her shoulder, ‘I want you to come with me into the dining-room before you go upstairs.’
She snuffled.
In the dining-room I went at once to the window to draw up the blinds.
‘Not that, not that!’ Rebecca appealed, weeping. ‘For pity’s sake!’ And she caught my hand.