"Who was she with?" she asked.
"No one. She went up alone and said she was going to be away for a few
days. Where's she going?"
Anne gave me a look that said, "Keep your mouth shut," and turned quiet
and innocent to Jim. "Just for a visit to friends. She's always visiting
people in New York and Philadelphia."
Jim stayed round a while gabbing with us, and then went back to the
station. When the door shut on him we stared at each other with our eyes
as round as marbles.
"Oh, Molly," Anne said, almost in a whisper, "it's just what I've been
afraid of."
"You think she's lighting out?"
"Yes--don't you see, the Doctor being at the Dalzells' has given her the
chance."
"Where would she go to?"
"How do I know? Heaven send she hasn't done anything foolish. But this
morning she sent Virginie, that French woman, up to the village for
something--on Sunday when all the shops are shut. The housemaid told me
they'd been trying to find out what it was and Virginie wouldn't tell.
Oh, dear, _could_ she have gone off with someone?"
We were talking it over in low voices when a call came. It was from
Mapleshade to the Dalzells'. As I made the connection I whispered to
Anne what it was and she whispered back, "Listen."
I did. It was from Mrs. Fowler, all breathless and almost crying. She
asked for the Doctor and when he came burst out:
"Oh, Dan, something's happened--something dreadful. Sylvia's run away."