The gentleman was still more astonished, even to the extent that he laid down his pen and looked at her again.
"The pelican, dear?"
"Ay, just the pelican," answered she deliberately, and even a little indignantly. "Are you the pelican?"
"Why, yes, dear; all that is for it below the figure," said he, smiling, and wondering what the next question would be.
"I am so glad I have found you," said she; "because sister Mary is dying."
"And who is sister Mary?"
"My sister, Mary Maconie, at Juniper Green."
Whereupon the gentleman began to remember that the name of William
Maconie was in his books as holder of a policy.
"And what more?"
"My father says the pelican insured Mary's life; and I want you to come direct and do it, because I couldn't live if Mary were to die; and there's no time to be lost."