"Are you going?" asked a girl of Susan.
"No; not for all the world," said Susan. "It would terrify me into my grave."
She went upstairs, and Maud followed her. When they reached Susan's room Susan turned the key in the lock.
"Now then, thank goodness we're safe!" she said. "We'll get into bed and cover our heads up with the bedclothes, and pray that we may sleep all night. I'm horribly frightened. Aren't you, Maudie?"
"I think I'm more sorry than frightened," said Maud. "I wish we hadn't been so dreadful to her."
"Maud," said Susan, raising her voice to a pitch of agony, "you dare talk of that to-night? Why, it will drive me mad."
"But why did we do it, Susan? But for that she wouldn't be so ill."
"I don't believe you. Her illness has nothing to do with us. Oh, do let us get into bed! It is so dreadful to be up when that may be coming into the house."
"Death, you mean?" said Maud. "I never saw death."