And, as Martha remained silent, gazing oddly down at her through her glasses:
“My aunt isn’t ill, is she?”
“No, she ain’t ill. H’ain’t you heard?”
“Heard what?”
“Didn’t you get my letter?”
“Your letter? Why did you write? What is the matter? Where is my aunt?” asked the disturbed girl.
“I wrote you last month.”
“What did you write?”
“You never got it?”
“No, I didn’t! What has happened to my aunt?”