The more he reflected on taking them into his confidence, the more desirable became the idea, and at length he decided that before he went to bed he would have a frank talk with the three women of his household and lay before them all his troubles. If he were to do this he must hasten, for Sefton Falls kept early hours.
When, however, he reached his own land, he found the lights in the house still burning, and he was surprised to see Jane, a shawl thrown over her head, coming to meet him.
“Martin!” she called, “is that you?”
The words contained a disquieting echo of anxiety.
“Yes, what’s the matter?”
“Oh, I’m so glad you’ve got back!” she exclaimed. “I was just goin’ over to the Websters’ to find you. A telephone message has just come while you’ve been gone. Lucy——” 293
“Yes, yes,” interrupted Martin breathlessly.
“There’s been an accident to the Boston train, an’ they telephoned from the hospital at Ashbury that she’d been hurt. They wanted I should come down there!”
She saw Martin reel and put out his hand.
“Martin!” she cried, rushing to his side.