"I don't know who gave it to him."
"I can't imagine anyone giving old Potts a raise, certainly not the
board. The members meet only once a month, on the fifteenth. Of course,
it's possible a special session was called because of my stepfather's
absence."
"That may have happened," agreed Penny. "At any rate, Mr. Potts seemingly
has come into money."
Rounding a twist in the path, the girls came within view of the mansion
terrace where Mrs. Rhett, in white, reclined.
"Why, Mother is downstairs!" Lorinda exclaimed in surprise.
The woman did not see the girls until they were very close. But as they
reached the terrace, she raised her eyes, and smiled in a brief, sad
manner. Penny instantly noted the pallor of her face.
"I appreciate your efforts, Lorinda," she said before either of the girls
spoke. "But it is useless."
"What is useless, Mother?" inquired her daughter.
"I saw smoke rising from your fire on the beach."
Lorinda glanced quickly at Penny, laughed nervously and said: "Oh, that!
I was burning a little driftwood."
Mrs. Rhett held her daughter's eyes in a steady, knowing gaze.
"It is useless to try to deceive me," she said quietly. "I know you
burned the doll."
"Whatever gave you such an idea, Mother?"
"I know," replied the woman with quiet finality. "First the burnt match
ends and now the doll! My life thread is reaching its end, and I shall
slowly weaken and die."
CHAPTER
13
_MISSING FROM THE CHEST_
"Mother, how did you learn about the wooden doll?" Lorinda gasped. "And
where did you get such a crazy idea that you will weaken and die?"
"I have known it ever since my husband went away."
"But that's impossible!" cried Lorinda, fairly beside herself with
anxiety. "I'm sure the doll wasn't in the house until today. Someone is
putting these notions in your head! Is it Celeste?"
"Celeste is doing her best to help, but there is nothing she can do,"
Mrs. Rhett said sadly.
"Mother, snap out of this! You're worried about Father and it has made
you morbid. Nothing will happen to you. The doll has been destroyed, and
in any case, we know it's only a stupid effigy."
Dropping her head wearily on the chair back, Mrs. Rhett smiled and said
nothing. Closing her eyes, she relaxed for a moment. Penny and Lorinda
thought she might be dropping off to sleep, so they moved quietly away.