CHAPTER XVI
RELEASE
I
She opened the front door without knocking, and came straight into my sitting-room.
“’E’s not ’ere,” she said in a manner that left it doubtful whether she made an assertion or asked a question.
“Your son?” I said. I had risen when she came into the room. “No; I haven’t seen him to-day.”
Ellen Mary was staring at me, but it was clear that she neither saw nor heard me. She had a look of intense concentration. One could see that she was calculating, thinking, thinking....
I went over to her and took her by the arm. I gently shook her. “Now, tell me what’s the matter? What has happened?” I asked.
She made an effort to collect herself, loosened her arm from my hold and with an instinctive movement pushed forward the old bonnet, which had slipped to the back of her head.