Stella tried to pull herself together, but she could not bring herself to go farther into the room than the doorway, where she stayed, leaning against the wall, her handkerchief pressed to her mouth. She saw Guy put his hand on Miss Matthews' shoulder, and shake it, and heard him say in a voice sharp with alarm: “Aunt Harriet, wake up! Aunt Harriet!”
“Oh don't!” Stella whispered. “Can't you see?”
He strode to the window, and wrenched the curtains back, with a clatter of rings along the brass rod. Across the room his eyes met Stella's. “Stella…' he said. “Stella… What are we going to do?”
She looked back at him, her own eyes widening as she read the thought in his. Then, before either of them could speak, Mrs Matthews came into the room. “Well, Harriet, how are you feeling?” she said. “My dear child, what in the world is the matter?”
Stella said baldly: “Mother, Aunt Harriet is dead.”
“Dead?” repeated Mrs Matthews. “Nonsense! You don't know what you're talking about! Let me pass at once! Really, your love of the dramatic—” She broke off, feeling Miss Matthews' hand as Stella had done. Her make-up was too perfect to allow of her changing colour, but her children saw her stiffen. One swift glance she shot at them, then she said in a carefully controlled voice: “Your aunt must have had a stroke. We must send for a doctor. Guy, go at once and ring up Dr Fielding. Now please don't stand there in that silly way, Stella dear! Of course it's only a stroke!”
“She's dead,” Stella repeated. “Like uncle. You know she's dead.”
Mrs Matthews went to her, and took her hand. “Darling, you've had a shock, and you're a little overwrought. You mustn't say things like that. Now, the best thing you can do is to go to your own room, and lie down for a bit. You can't do anything for your aunt till Dr —”
“No one can. Oh, why didn't you send for Deryk when she said she felt ill? Why didn't you, mother?”
“My dear little Stella, there was no question of sending for a doctor. You must try and pull yourself together, my pet. No one could have foreseen this. It was nothing but a slight stomach-upset; in fact, your aunt said herself that all she wanted was to lie down and keep quiet for a while. Now I am going to give you a little sal volatile to pull you round, and then you shall go to your own room till you are more yourself.”