“No,” said Dr. Matthews in reply to a question from Miss Randolph, “it is useless to attempt anything now. I tried to telephone to Greycliff a little while ago and got no reply. I think the wires are down. But this can not last long, I think, and it is only a short distance to Greycliff. And no boat would dare start out now. A storm like this is unusual and has doubtless done much damage to the shipping all along the lake. But Providence cares for those children of ours as much as we do. We must be hopeful and courageous. As soon as the storm lessens a little I will go myself to Greycliff, on one of the horses, for no one knows how the roads will be. With your permission, Miss Randolph I shall engage one of the big boats to go after the girls. Remember that they had two men besides Norris to look after them.” But remembering that Miss West was there, too, with Dr. Norris, did not console anybody very much.
In the parlors were sober girls, talking excitedly, or watching the storm at the front windows. Isabel, who “hated waterworks,” was walking around all unconscious of the tears running down her cheeks. Avalon sat in one of the big chairs, a disconsolate heap. Virginia was trying to keep up her spirits. “Wait till you know it’s happened, kiddie,” she was saying. “Every one of ’em can swim!”
“O, yes, but who could swim in a storm like that?”
“Maybe they got there.”
“Yes, and maybe they didn’t.”
Isabel came wandering back from the windows and drew up a chair near Virginia. “You’ve got a good name, Virginia Hope,” said she.
“Yes, except for myself when I get discouraged,—but look, girls, it’s getting lighter.”
“And it isn’t raining so much!”
“I don’t believe that the wind is so dreadful, either.”
“I haven’t seen any lightning for some time.”