I didn't stir. My heart stood dead still for an instant. I grabbed hold of the portière.
"Something has happened to Tom," I gasped, so sure I didn't even have to ask.
I suppose I must have looked horribly frightened, for one of the twins blurted out, in the twins' frank brutal way, "Oh, say, don't get so everlastingly excited. Tom's all right, for all we know. So's every one else. Do cool off."
Ruthie giggled. She always giggles at the twins, and I knew then that my sudden fear had been for nothing. The angry colour rushed into my face.
"Smarties!" I flung back at the twins with all my might.
"Oh, Lucy!" I heard Father murmur, and I saw Alec drop his eyes as if he were ashamed of such an outburst from his seventeen-year-old sister.
"I don't care," I went on. "Why do you want to frighten me to death? What's the matter with you all, anyway? What are you all doing? Why isn't Ruthie in bed? Why are the twins—"
"It's all about you!" Malcolm interrupted in a sort of triumphant manner.
"Me!" I gasped. "What in thunder—"
"Oh, Lucy!" Father again murmured.