"I know, dear; you will be a good girl and go back to your mother. Of course you cannot do what he wants. This is my room; he will hardly come to it without my permission. If you think it is necessary to explain your absence, I will go down to him, if you will let me, and explain what is necessary."
"Oh, if you will! I mean if you can! He is very determined; and he is used to having his own way; I cannot think that he will let me—"
She was trembling so violently that she could scarcely speak.
Mrs. Dunlap passed an arm about her and spoke as she might have done to a frightened child.
"Don't think about that part of it any more; I am not in the least afraid of him; and I will take care of you! Have you a kimono in this bag? Let me help you take off your dress, just as your mother would, and slip the kimono on for a little while. I have been looking at the time table. You can have almost three hours of quiet; then I will take you to the train. We can plan all the details afterwards."
"Oh, you are so kind!" murmured the girl.
"I am going downstairs now," the woman said when the girl had submitted to her ministrations, resisting the suggestion about the bed, but allowing herself to be propped among pillows in an easy chair. "I will come back in a little while; or would you rather have this room quite to yourself? I can be comfortable down on one of the couches, and I will come for you in ample time for the train."
"No! Oh, no!" the girl said, the look of fear coming into her eyes again. "Please don't leave me! And yet you must! Would you mind locking the door and taking the key with you? I cannot help a feeling that—"
"She is afraid of him!" was Mrs. Dunlap's mental comment as she sped down the hall with the key in her pocket.
On the whole she decided she was rather glad of an opportunity to tell that man what she thought of him.