“Now constable, don’t get excited,” chaffed Grogan, to whose aid Harvey’s quick rise to prominence and office was in part due. “We don’t want to be catching any burglars this happy day.”
“What is it?” asked Patience Boland, rising.
“I—I don’t know, to be really certain.” Mary looked at Mrs. Welcome. “Somebody came in at the back gate and went into the summer-house.”
Mrs. Welcome leaned heavily on the table.
Harvey ran to the window. Grogan looked over his shoulder.
“Oh, Miss Randall, please go out and see.” Patience’s arms were already about her mother. “Mumsey, mumsey, can it be?”
Mary went out into the porch and down the garden path.
It was Elsie Welcome who came out of the summer-house and slowly along between the flower borders. She was shockingly emaciated. She stopped and put her suit case down on the ground; its weight seemed too great for her spent strength.
Mary ran to her.
Elsie looked at her with sorrowful dark eyes.