Tilly rose to her feet again, keeping her back to her audience.
"Where is it?" she enquired unsteadily.
"Here," said Amelia, with a hand in the pocket of her pinafore.
"Put it on the table," said Tilly, standing on tiptoe while she patted her brown hair into position before the glass. "I'll read it presently."
"There's the front-door bell!" said Mrs. Welwyn nervously. "What are we to do if it's Russell again?"
"Lock the door," said Amelia promptly.
"I don't know, I'm sure," said Mrs. Welwyn doubtfully. "I wonder what the law is. I wish Daddy was in." She considered, perplexed. "Anyhow, I'll go down and see. Come with me, 'Melia," she added tactfully.
The pair slipped out of the room and went downstairs, leaving Tilly alone with her letter.
"Supposing he rushes in the moment we open the door?" whispered Amelia, as they consulted on the mat. "What then?"
"We'll put the chain up first, and then open the door a crack," said Mrs. Welwyn.