“Who can that be?” cried Leslie, wide-eyed and trembling.
“Perhaps it’s Ted come back,” ventured Phyllis. “At any rate, I suppose we’ll have to go and see!”
Rags, alert also, uttered a low growl, and Leslie silenced him anxiously. “If this arouses Aunt Marcia,”—she whispered, “I shall be awfully worried. Be quiet, Rags!”
They tiptoed into the living-room, switched on the light, and advanced to the door. Again the knock came, light but insistent; and without further hesitation, Leslie threw the door open.
A muffled, dripping figure inquired timidly, “Please may I come in? I’m dripping wet and chilled to the bone.”
“Why, Eileen!” cried Leslie, “what are you doing here in this terrible storm?”
“I got lost on the way back from the hospital,” half sobbed the new-comer, “and I must have motored round and round in the rain and dark. And at last something went wrong with the engine, and I got out and left the car on the road—and I walked and walked—trying to find some place to stay—and at last I found I was right near here—so I came in!” She seemed exhausted and half hysterical and Leslie could not but believe her.
“Well, I’m so glad you’re found and here!” she cried. “I must call up Aunt Sally right away and tell her you’re all right. She called a while ago and was so anxious about you.”
Leslie went to the telephone, while Phyllis helped Eileen to rid herself of her wet clothes and get into something dry. Then they all sat down by the fire in an uneasy silence. Presently Phyllis suggested that Eileen might like something warm to eat and drink, as she had evidently had no dinner. She assented to this eagerly, and the two girls went to the kitchen to provide something for her.
“I tell you,” whispered Phyllis, “I just can’t believe that hospital and getting-lost stuff! She came out here for some purpose, you mark my word! But why she wants to get in here is beyond me just yet. I’ll find out later, though, you see if I don’t!”