Alex looked utterly bewildered.
"It's quite early—Holland can go in a cab."
Barbara rang the bell importantly and gave her instructions in a small, hard voice.
"It's no use just waiting about for days and days," she said to Alex. "It makes the whole house feel horrid, and father is so grave and sarcastic at meals, and it makes mother ill. You'd much rather be there than here, wouldn't you, Alex?"
Alex thought again of the Superior's welcome, which had never failed her—the Superior who knew nothing of her wicked ingratitude and undutifulness at home, and repeated miserably:
"Yes, yes, I'd much rather be there than here."
The answer to the note came much more quickly than they had expected it. Barbara heard the cab stop in the square outside, and ran down into the hall. She came back in a moment with a small, twisted note.
"What does it say, Alex?"
Alex read the tiny missive, and a great throb of purest relief and comfort went through her.
"I may go at once. She is waiting for me now, this minute, if I like."