Airy had thrown herself back in her chair, her mouth was wide open, her eyes were staring and glassy. “O!” The man put his hands to his ears. It seemed to him that nothing in his life had ever struck such sudden dismay to his heart. He had seen women in hysterics, but this childish yelling was a thousand times worse. Where were the boys and the servants? He could not bear to touch the unfortunate young creature, and he turned helplessly to the door.
Titus and Dallas were rushing in from the room across the hall. When Titus saw Airy he fell back. He had something of his grandfather’s repugnance to her.
Dallas, however, was not dismayed. He took in the situation at a glance, and saying to Titus, “You had better shut the windows,” he calmly took off his coat and threw it over Airy’s head.
At the close of the day the big furnace in the basement was apt to make the house very warm, and windows were freely left open. Titus ran about this second floor, hastily closing them, while the servants came running to the study to see what was the matter.
“Take her away,” said the Judge, hastily; “let the women have her. I think she is half starved. Give her something to eat, and let her go home.”
Airy’s voice was muffled now, but it was still holding forth, and in addition she had begun to kick.
Dallas took up the lean little body in his strong young arms and bore it across the hall to the sitting room.
“Come in here,” he said to the wave of maids on the staircase, and followed by Mrs. Blodgett this wave overflowed into the sitting room.
“I excited her—I will stay here,” said the Judge, with an approving gesture, and he backed into his study and closed the door. “Take good care of her,” he called once more, opening the door, “and send her home when she is better.”
Titus returned into a corner of the sitting room, and Dallas became master of ceremonies.