Patricia went to curl herself up on one of the sitting-room
window-seats. Jim had gone with her father; Sarah was down at the gate
talking over the accident with the maid from next door. Presently,
across the street, a familiar figure came into view, through the
gathering twilight. Patricia hurried to the door. "O Nell!" she called.
Nell Hardy came running over. "Patricia, you've heard?"
"Yes; they sent for Daddy. Aunt Julia's gone down to the hotel."
"So's Mama; she wouldn't let me go with her. O Patricia! If it had been
the local!"
"Don't, Nell! Come on in and stay; I'm under orders not to leave the
house."
They went into the sitting-room, where Patricia brightened up the fire
and lit the big lamp, with its crimson shade. Then she came to sit
beside Nell on the broad old lounge. "Nell, aren't you wild to help too?
If only Daddy hadn't--Oh, I know--" The next moment Patricia was out in
the hall at the telephone.
Nell waited wonderingly.
"Come on, Nell!" Patricia stood in the open doorway, her eyes dancing.
"Five of them coming!"
"What are you talking about, Pat?"
"Children." Patricia was leading the way upstairs. "I got Mrs.
Pages:
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78