"Your mother says, miss," said the maid, retreating into the hall, "I am to tell you she can't come down. Your father is ill, and she has sent for Dr. Clarke. But you are please not to go up. Will you give the gentlemen their tea, and she will come down before they go, if she can."
Marcella had turned pale.
"Mayn't I go, Deacon? What is it?"
"It's a bad fit of pain, your mother says, miss. Nothing can be done till the doctor comes. She begged particular that you wouldn't go up, miss. She doesn't want any one put out."
At the same moment there was a ring at the outer door.
"Oh, there is Aldous," cried Marcella, with relief, and she ran out into the hall to meet him.
CHAPTER III.
Aldous advanced into the inner hall at sight of Marcella, leaving his companions behind in the vestibule taking off their coats. Marcella ran to him.
"Papa is ill!" she said to him hastily. "Mamma has sent for Dr. Clarke. She won't let me go up, and wants us to take no notice and have tea without her."
"I am so sorry! Can we do anything? The dogcart is here with a fast horse. If your messenger went on foot—"