“Sh-sh! I'm not much help. Land knows I wish I was more.”
“You ARE the help; all the help I have. Gertie—Daniel, you will keep an eye on Gertie, won't you. You won't let her do anything foolish.”
“Who? Gertie? She won't do foolish things. She ain't that kind.”
“I know, but she has changed so. It worries me. Percy—”
“Now don't you worry about Percy. He isn't here now.”
“Not here? Where is he?”
“I don't know. He's gone away—for a spell, anyhow. Maybe that vacation he used to talk about is over. I guess that's it.”
Serena was too weak to ask further questions, even concerning so surprising a matter as Cousin Percy's sudden departure. But she did make one further plea.
“Daniel,” she begged, “if Annette calls about the Chapter you tell her—”
“I've told her. She understands. She says it's all right.”