“Then?” inquired Barnes, directly.
“Go,” she replied. “Go quickly.”
Which, though ambiguous, decided the matter. Barnes left the room, following the girl who, quite as out of breath as her aunt, led the way.
CHAPTER III
DREAMS OF THE OLD
They had no sooner reached the head of the stairs than a second tinkle came rippling fairy-like the length of the white-finished hall from a room at the end facing the West. Miss Van Patten paused. But the orange-colored cat preceded them and stepped daintily over the sill.
“Shall we follow her Highness?” whispered Barnes.
The girl shrank back a little.
“If we fail?” she gasped.
“Then,” answered Barnes, “there’ll be nothing left but to explain.”
“Would he ever forgive us? Would he ever trust us again?”