Marjorie hurried with her dressing and rushed downstairs on Sunday morning, eager to hear the explanations of Anna’s aunt. The previous night the occurrence had appeared wild, but plausible; now, in the clear morning light, it seemed absurd. She felt sure that either she or the woman had been dreaming.
Although most of the girls put in an early appearance in the dining-room, they were disappointed to find that Mrs. McCreedy was still in bed. They tried to allay their curiosity by discussing the affair from all possible angles.
“I really believe,” announced Lily, “that there is some superhuman power in that house that is responsible for this deed!”
“And I agree with you,” said Mrs. Munsen, firmly. “We have plenty of proof of spirits’ manifesting themselves in the Bible—so it is not a subject to be laughed at, or put aside as childish.”
“Lots of other people—older and wiser than we are—think the place is haunted!” put in Marie Louise.
“Well, I simply don’t believe it!” said Marjorie. “It’s much more likely that Anna has been kidnapped.”
“But why would anybody want to kidnap a poor servant girl?” asked Florence, practically. “There wouldn’t be any hope of ransom.”
“Maybe it was a rejected suitor,” suggested Alice, always looking for the romantic.
“It really is a waste of time to make all these conjectures,” remarked Ethel, “before we have heard the facts in the case. The woman may have been dreaming, or Anna sleep-walking.”
“Let’s take the car and go down to the tea-house right away!” interrupted Lily. “Maybe we have had all our fears for nothing.”