A FAMILY REUNION
Matilda's shaking hand unlocked the door. Jack lunged in, behind him Mr. Pyecroft and Judge Harvey, and behind them Mary. On Jack's face was a look of menacing justice. But at sight of the trembling turnkey the invading party suddenly halted, and Jack's stern jaw relaxed and almost dropped from its sockets.
"Matilda!" he exclaimed. And from behind him, like a triplicate echo, sounded the others' "Matilda!"
"Good—good-morning, Mr. Jack," quavered Matilda, locking the door again.
Then the four sighted Olivetta.
"What, you, Olivetta!" Jack and Judge Harvey cried in unison.
"Yes, it's I, Jack," she said with an hysterical laugh. "I just thought I'd call in to express—it's no more than is proper, my being her cousin, you know,—to express my sympathy to your mother."
"Your sympathy to my mother?"
"Yes. To—to tell her how—how sorry I am that she's dead," elucidated Olivetta.
A little hand gripped Jack's arm.