"Dorothy! Oh, what is the matter?"
Dorothy started violently. She dabbed her eyes hurriedly with her handkerchief and tried to laugh.
"Nothing! Don't look so scared! I'm only rather worried." She turned away to hide her face. "I've had a letter with rather bad news. No, I can't tell you now—it's nothing! Please, go down and I'll be ready in a minute. I'm so sorry we're late, Marie. The silly car went wrong."
"I know. Chris told me. Dorothy, are you sure there is nothing the matter—nothing I can do for you?"
"Quite sure! Run downstairs, there's a dear; I won't be a minute." She almost turned Marie out of the room.
233 Chris was coming upstairs as she crossed the landing, and he stopped looking at her in quick concern.
"Anything the matter, Marie Celeste?"
"No, only—Chris, Dorothy is crying so! She won't tell me what is the matter. She says she's had bad news in a letter."
He went to his room, abruptly.
"It's probably nothing; I shouldn't worry."