I snatched up my hat. "I must go to her instantly," I said. "I must see her before she reaches her mother. I have lost time already."
"Upon my word!" exclaimed Miss Laniston, "your way of taking it is indeed interesting. Not a word of thanks, not a sign of recognition"--
I had nearly reached the door, but now rushed back and seized her by the hand. "Excuse me," I said, "but you can see for yourself"--and with one violent shake I dropped her hand, and hurried away.
"Oh, yes," she cried, "I can easily see for myself," and as I left the house I heard her hearty laugh.
I sprang into my cab, ordering the man to drive fast for the railroad station. It mattered not to me whether Walkirk went to Europe or not. All I cared for was to catch the next train which would take me to Arden.
When I reached Arden I took one of the melancholy vehicles which stand at our station, and very much astonished the driver by ordering him to take me, not to my own home, but to the House of Martha.
"You know they're busted up, sir," said the man, turning to me, as his old horse hurried us along at the best of his speed.
"But the sisters have not left?" I eagerly asked.
"Not all," he said, "but two or three of them went down this morning."
"Drive on quicker," I replied, "I am in a hurry."
The man gave the horse a crack with his whip, which made no difference whatever in our rate of speed, and said:--
"If you've got a bill agin any of them, sir, you needn't worry. The Mother is still there, and she's all right, you know."
"I'm sorry they're busted," said the man; "they didn't do much hackin', but they give us a lot of haulin' from the station."
As I hurried up the broad path which led to the front of the House of Martha, I found the door of the main entrance open, something I had never noticed before, although I had often passed the house. I entered unceremoniously, and saw before me, in the hallway, a woman in gray, stooping over a trunk. She turned, at the sound of my footsteps on the bare floor, and I beheld Sister Sarah. Her eyes flashed as she saw me, and I know that her first impulse was to order me out of the house. This of course she now had no right to do, but there were private rights which she still maintained.