Lily wrenched her hand away from Miss Cleeve's and ran to her.
"Can't I see Vonnie?" she cried urgently.
Her mother kissed her silently.
"I hope——?" said Miss Cleeve hesitatingly.
There was an interchange of glances between the two grown women that the child's strained, anxious gaze sought desperately to interpret.
"Is Vonnie very ill, Mother?"
"There's nothing for you to worry your little self about, my darling," said Eleanor in a soothing voice, kissing her again.
A choking sense of her own impotence, resentment at their futile evasions, and above all a growing horror of all this mystery, made Lily burst into loud, unrestrained crying.
"Hush!" cried Miss Cleeve sharply, pulling her into the dining-room.
"Lily, Lily," said her mother. "Oh don't, my little pet."