Hester had been fond of the child from the beginning, and in spite of her fifteen years, and her even older world-knowledge, Zizi was a child, in many ways. Hester mothered her whenever possible, though Zizi’s natural efficiency made little assistance really necessary. But Hester loved to wait on her, and so, this morning, when, going into the room with a can of hot water, she found no sleepy little occupant of the great bed, she ran straight upstairs to Miss Carnforth’s room.
“Where’s that child?” she demanded as Eve opened the door to her loud knock.
“What child? Who?”
“Zizi. She’s gone! Sperrited away! What have you done with her?”
“Hush, Hester! You act crazy——”
“And crazy I am, if any harm’s come to that girl! Where is she?”
Doors opened and heads were thrust out, as the voice of the irate Hester was heard about the house.
Penny Wise, in bathrobe and slippers, appeared, saying, “What’s up? Zizi disappeared?”
“Yes,” moaned Hester, “her bed’s been slept in, but she ain’t nowhere to be found. Oh, where can she be?”
“Be quiet,” commanded Wise. He ran downstairs, and examined the doors and windows minutely. Except for those that Hester or Thorpe had opened that morning, all were locked as they had been left the night before.