"Yes."
"Will you tell Judge Brewster or shall I?"
"Judge Brewster! Why should he know?" cried Alicia, startled. More composedly and as if resigned to the inevitable, she went on: "Yes, I suppose he must know sooner or later, but, I——"
She broke down again and burst into tears. Annie watched her in silence.
"It's tough—isn't it?" she said sympathetically.
"Yes," sobbed Alicia through her tears, "it's—it's tough!" Rising, she dried her eyes and said hastily: "Don't say anything now. Give me a few hours. Then I can think what is best to be done."
Annie was about to reply when the office door suddenly opened and Judge Brewster entered. Addressing Alicia, he said:
"Pardon me, Mrs. Jeffries, I hope I haven't kept you waiting." Noticing her agitation and traces of tears, he looked surprised. He made no comment but turned to Annie:
"I have been talking to Dr. Bernstein over the 'phone."
Annie approached him softly and said in a whisper: