In a storm of remorse, he collapsed to the floor with his face in his hands.
CHAPTER XX
Madelene Complains to Ebenezer
"Read that letter; then you'll see why I'm angry," said Ebenezer Waldstricker to Helen one morning after he had frowningly perused a letter from Madelene. "Her last two have had a touch of this thing in them, too. If I find—"
He stopped because his wife had dropped her eyes and begun to read.
"Dear Eb:—
"Your letters have come along one after another, but they haven't made me feel happier. I do dislike to act as if I were telling tales; but I'm so miserable, and you're the only one in the world I can call on in my distress. You will forgive me, I know, dear Ebenezer. We've been here now such a long time, that I really feel as if we ought to come home, but I simply dread it more and more I think of it.
"You can't imagine how doleful Fred is, and I know it's the Skinner girl who's causing it."