“I only want to ask you something,” said the housekeeper, less raspingly. “Are the little ones down there? Have you seen them?”
“Them chillun? No’m. I ain’t seen ’em fo’ some time. They was playin’ up this-a-way den.”
“How long ago?”
“I done reckon it was nigh two hours ago.”
“Hunt for them, Agnes!” gasped the housekeeper. “I fear me something bad has happened. You, Linda,” for the Finnish girl now appeared, “run to the neighbors—all of them! See if you can find those bairns.”
“Tess and Dottie, mum?” cried the Finnish girl, already in tears. “Oh! they ain’t losted are they?”
“For all you know they are!” declared Mrs. McCall. “Look around the house for them, Uncle Rufus. I will look inside—”
“They may be upstairs with Aunt Sarah,” cried Agnes, getting her breath at last.
“I’ll know that in a moment!” declared Mrs. McCall, and darted within.
Agnes ran in the other direction. She felt such a lump in her throat that she could scarcely speak or breathe. The possibility of something having happened to the little girls—and with Ruth away!—cost the second Corner House girl every last bit of her self-control.