Mrs. Harter?
She was badly bruised, but by some miracle had escaped serious injury. She would be detained for the night, but the doctor could find nothing the matter with her beyond severe shock.
Harter himself had not appeared at the hospital at all.
“Then,” said Mary, “has anyone—is anyone—with Mrs. Harter?”
There was a momentary silence at the other end of the wire. Then:
“The nurse is within call, of course. But, naturally, there’s a great deal to be done. She seems more or less stunned.”
“I see,” said Mary.
She hung up the receiver without mentioning the name of the dead boy.
Claire upbraided her for that.
“But what could I have asked?” said Mary sadly.