Lila hastened toward her. “Miss Bright, oh, Miss Bright, I did not know. I am exceedingly sorry. You will keep me posted? If there is anything that I can do, of course—I feel—I feel—so guilty.”
Ellen raised her face. Her mouth was trembling at the corners. “I sent the letter,” she said, “I’m waiting.” She winked rapidly and her odd features worked convulsively for a moment. “If—if they telegraph——”
“Miss Bright.” It was the voice of a messenger girl who had that instant emerged from an adjacent apartment. “Will you step into the office at once, if you please? There is a message——”
Ellen was gone like a flash. Lila walked across to the staircase and very deliberately seated herself with her head resting against the banisters. It was there that Bea found her a few minutes later when the stream of students was beginning to set toward the chapel doors.
Bea was startled. “Lila, what is it? You look like a ghost. Shall I get some water?”
Lila opened her eyes. “I think that her little sister is dead,” she said.
“Oh!” Bea clasped her hands in pity. “How can we help?”
“I think that I killed her,” said Lila.
“What!” It was almost a shout. Then noticing that several girls turned to stare curiously in passing, Bea put out her hand. “Come, Lila, get up. It’s time to go to chapel. You don’t realize what you’re saying.”
She rose obediently in mechanical response to the gesture.