Chapter Ten.
An Alarming Attack.
Marcia did not know why her heart felt like lead as she walked back the short distance between the railway station and her father’s house; why all the joy seemed to have gone out of her, when there was no apparent reason. It was a glorious summer evening, the sky was studded with innumerable stars, which would shine more brightly in an hour or so, as soon as the rays of the sun had quite departed from the western horizon. There was not a cloud anywhere. Nevertheless, a very dense cloud rested over the girl’s heart.
She went into the house, and the first thing she noticed was the fact that there were no lights burning anywhere. She glanced up at the invalid’s room; there was no light in the window, no brightness. What could be wrong? Oh, nothing, of course. Nesta might not be a good nurse, but she could not be so careless as that.
She let herself in with her latch key, and was met by Susan in the hall. Susan had her hat on.
“What is it, Susan?”
“I beg your pardon, Miss? I have only just come in. It was my evening out. I came back a whole hour before my time because I was anxious about Missis. I suppose cook has seen to her.”
“Cook? But where are the young ladies? Where is Miss Nesta?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? And where are the other young ladies?”