But Pen's mother did not respond. Her heart was beating too fast, she could not speak.
"You've got to go to the door, Sarah," continued the sister; "I'm not dressed."
Colonel Butler was already on his way up the path, and, a moment later, his knock was heard at the door. It was opened by Sarah Butler who stood there facing him with outward calmness. Evidently the colonel had not anticipated seeing her, and, for the moment, he was apparently disconcerted. But he recovered himself at once and inquired courteously if Mr. Walker was at home. It was the third time in his life that he had spoken to his daughter-in-law. The first time was when she returned from her bridal trip, and the interview on that occasion had been brief and decisive. The second time was when her husband was lying dead in the modest home to which he had taken her. Now he had spoken to her again, and this time there was no bitterness in his tone nor iciness in his manner.
"Yes," she replied; "father is somewhere about. If you will please come in and be seated I will try to find him."
He followed her into the sitting-room, and took the chair that she placed for him.
"I beg that you will not put yourself to too much trouble," he said, "in trying to find him; although I desire to see him on a somewhat important errand."
"It will not be the slightest trouble," she assured him.
But, as she turned to go, he added as though a new thought had come to him:
"Perhaps you have some young person about the premises whom you could send out in search of Mr. Walker, and thus save yourself the effort of finding him."
"No," she replied. "There is no young person here. I will go myself. It will take but a minute or two."