Little by little, in answer to repeated questions, the narration broken by many sobs, the child gave the story of the previous day’s interview with Joe.
“Jennie,” said Mr. Gaston, finally, “have you seen Joe this morning? Answer me truly.”
“Ye—yes, Father.”
“Where?”
“Here, in the hall.”
“At what hour?”
“I don’t—don’t know. It was before daylight. He was just starting. I bade him good-by, and went back into my room, and he went on downstairs.”
Jennie was lavish of her information this time. The questions were getting dangerously near a point she dreaded, and she hoped there would be no more of them.
Alas! The very next question shook the foundation of her guilty knowledge of Joe’s apparent crime.
“Jennie,” asked her father, “did you see Joe this morning after he left the house?”