“Mama’s gone to bed,” she announced chokingly. “She’s cried herself sick. And William’s gone out—I don’t know where he’s gone. Mama’s afraid he’ll—he’ll drown himself!”
“He came down to Judge Jessup’s office to hear about Leigh, and he’s gone over to the Payson Building,” said Daniel dryly. “You go and tell mother he’s all right. And—listen, Emily—I’ve got to see Fanchon. Will you please ask her to come down-stairs?”
“Ask Fanchon to come down-stairs? Me?” Emily crumpled. “I guess I won’t!”
“I’ve got to see her,” repeated Daniel. He drew a pad from his pocket, wrote a line on it, and folded it. “You take that up, Emmy.”
Emily backed.
“No!”
“Don’t you want to save Leigh?” asked Daniel sharply. “Yes? Then you take that up and stick it under her door and knock. She’ll read it.”
“She won’t. She hasn’t eaten anything. I think she’s going to starve herself to death.”
“Nonsense! You do as I say.”
Emily still backed. Then, catching his eye, she wavered, took the paper, and ran, sobbing, up-stairs.