'What is he to do, Rachel?' said Dorcas, standing near the door.
It was a very awkward pause. The splendid young bride was the only person on the stage who looked very much as usual. Stanley turned his pale glare of fury from Rachel to Dorcas, and Dorcas said again,
'What is it, Rachel, darling?'
Rachel, with a bright blush on her cheeks, stepped quickly up to her, put her arms about her neck and kissed her, and over her shoulder she cried to her brother—
'Tell her, Stanley.'
And so she quickly left the room and was gone.
'Well, Dorkie, love, what's the matter?' said Stanley sharply, at last breaking the silence.
'I really don't know—you, perhaps, can tell,' answered she coldly.
'You have frightened Rachel out of the room, for one thing,' answered he with a sneer.
'I simply asked her what she urged you to do—I think I have a claim to know. It is strange so reasonable a question from a wife should scare your sister from the room.'