“Oh,” faltered Gloria, betraying real confusion. “He promised to show me around a little.”
“Oh yes,” retorted Trixy. “Out around Echo Park?”
“Yes,” assented Gloria, and then the question was mercifully changed to matters Jane could comprehend.
She was promptly told about Mrs. Towers’ sudden illness, but her own knowledge of that woman’s nerves offset any show of surprise at this.
“But don’t you get excited, Glo,” warned Trixy. “You have had enough excitement for one day, I’ll testify.”
This advice, however, could not possibly forestall Gloria’s excitement when she was actually confronted with her Aunt Hattie’s condition a short time later.
Jane and Trixy kept in the background, preferring to wait in the living room, while Gloria, in spite of an officious person called Martha Drake, made her way directly to her aunt’s room.
“Oh, Gloria,” wailed the woman from the pillows. “I’m almost dead! Where have you been?” She was seriously changed—even with a quick glance Gloria saw this and tried to calm her.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Auntie dear,” she murmured, “but I couldn’t help it.”
“I don’t blame you! I knew you’d go. You couldn’t stand it here!” gasped the sick woman.