No sooner had Rhoda appeared than her father held up the key of Dahlia's bed-room, and said, "Unlock your sister, and fetch her down to her husband."
Mechanically Rhoda took the key.
"And leave our door open," he added.
She went up to Dahlia, sick with a sudden fright lest evil had come to
Robert, seeing that his enemy was here; but that was swept from her by
Dahlia's aspect.
"He is in the house," Dahlia said; and asked, "Was there no letter—no letter; none, this morning?"
Rhoda clasped her in her arms, seeking to check the convulsions of her trembling.
"No letter! no letter! none? not any? Oh! no letter for me!"
The strange varying tones of musical interjection and interrogation were pitiful to hear.
"Did you look for a letter?" said Rhoda, despising herself for so speaking.
"He is in the house! Where is my letter?"