"It cannot be! She has been very cool to make no mention of it till now."
But the thought of my having left any one so long in solitary, without food, took my strength from me. My limbs trembled; I sunk upon the steps.
"It cannot be, Mr. Deputy, that we have been so careless! Mrs. Martin has been very cool about it. She had my key about three; it is now after eight. No woman who had been in solitary three days without food would be merry enough to sing."
He slackened his pace; but still said,—
"I am going to see!"
When he came down I asked him what he found.
"An empty cell," he said quietly.
Mrs. Hardhack did not let her superior officer off so easily.
"I wish that woman could ever exercise a little common sense!" was her gentle comment.
"She is Head Matron of this institution,—you ought to speak of your superiors with respect;" was my sarcastic rejoinder. I could not choke down the remark.