“Lorinda is expecting me alone,” Penny said. “Maybe it would be better for you to wait here until I have a chance to talk to her.”
“Sure. Just signal if you need me.”
Jerry switched off the car lights and settled himself for a lengthy vigil.
Penny ran up the walk and pounded on the door. In a moment, she heard footsteps; the living room light flashed on; then the door was opened by Lorinda.
“Is anything the matter?” Penny inquired anxiously.
“It’s Mother,” Lorinda explained. “She’s very ill. We have the doctor now. I’m dreadfully worried.”
Penny, at a loss to understand how she could be of help, nodded sympathetically.
“Come with me upstairs,” Lorinda requested. “I want you to see and talk to Mother, and then tell me what you think.”
“What seems to be the trouble?”
“She refuses food and she has rapidly failed since you last saw her. I’ve tried to reason with her, but it is useless. She is convinced she has a fatal illness and will die!”