“Poor Mrs. Warfield never received them and we have censured her for not replying,” continued Mrs. Merryman.
“But one would suppose that not receiving any letter from her sister, she would write to know the reason for her silence,” suggested Mr. Courtney.
“She may have done so, but I never heard of it. Diana said that she asked the postmaster to forward a newspaper containing a notice of Mrs. Ashley’s death.”
“What should be done with the letters?” asked Mrs. Courtney. “Ought they not be forwarded to Mrs. Warfield?”
Hilda sat pale and silent, glancing anxiously from one to another, and for a time no one spoke.
“It appears to be the just, therefore the right thing, to do,” commented Mrs. Merryman.
“As my husband wrote one of the letters, if you all agree to it, I will take them home and ask him to forward them to Mrs. Warfield. Wouldn’t that be best, my love?” asked Mrs. Courtney, turning to Hilda.
“Oh, she may think I ought to go to her! How can I leave you all?” exclaimed the girl.
Tears filled the eyes of the elder ladies, and Mr. Courtney arose and left the room.
“But we would not be acting justly to the living or the dead by withholding them,” interposed Mrs. Courtney.