"One of you go up and fetch Eileen—no, not you, Denis! Or you, Master Lancaster! You go, Molly."
Molly hesitated, in distress. She knew that, once alone with Nell, she would never be able to regain her seriousness.
Ted took a step forward, "Mayn't I, please?" he asked meekly.
"Did you not hear me, Molly?"
"Y-yes, Aunt Kezia."
She hurried from the room, banged her elbow against the door, and went upstairs. She opened the door of the Stronghold about an inch, and called through, all in one agitated breath:—
"You're to come down, and oh, don't laugh, Nell!"
"I can't, M-Molly! I s-simply can't!"
"You must! Oh, do be serious!"
There was a pause.