“What is it, dear?”
“Oh, Justin, it is now four weeks since Britty went away, and we have heard nothing from her, and we do not know where to address her.”
“Well, my dear?”
“And to-morrow evening we start for the Rainbows, to be absent from the city for the whole remainder of the season.”
“Yes.”
“But, Justin, I cannot, indeed I cannot bear to go away without first trying to find out something about my dear Britomarte.”
“Well?”
“And so I wish you, if you please, to get a carriage and take me across Benning’s Bridge to Witch Elms, to ask about her.”
Justin could refuse his sister nothing, so the carriage was ordered and Witch Elms was reached after a tedious drive through a heavy rainstorm. The entrance was stoutly barred, but the travelers were at last admitted and shown into a wide parlor, the door being instantly shut and locked upon them.
Justin, amazed by this proceeding, began to search around for another exit.