Mrs. Carroll gave assent to it while a hoarse wail of anguish issued from her drawn, white lips.
Xenie echoed the wail, and for a moment her white face was hidden in her hands while the most terrible apprehension stabbed her to the heart.
Then she looked up and said quickly:
"She must have wandered away in a momentary fit of flightiness—don't you think so?"
And again Mrs. Carroll gave a quick motion of assent.
"Then I must find her, mamma," said Xenie, quickly. "She cannot have gone very far. She was too weak to get away from us unless—— Oh! my God! she cannot have gone to the water!" moaned Xenie, clasping her hands in horror.
Mrs. Carroll looked as if she were going into a fit at the bare suggestion.
Her face turned purple again, her eyes stared wildly, she clutched at her throat like one choking.
Xenie forced her back upon the lounge, applied restoratives, then exclaimed wildly:
"Mamma, I cannot bear to leave you thus, but I must go and seek for my sister. Even now she may be perishing in reach of our hands. Ninon, the maid, will be here in a little while. She will care for you, and I will bring back my poor little Lora."