The ladies had left the dining-room, when Albinia's ear caught a
sound of hurried opening of doors, and sound of steps, and saw Mrs.
and Miss Bowles look as if they heard something unexpected. She
paused, and forgot the end of what she was saying. The room door was
pushed a little way open, but then seemed to hesitate. Miss Bowles
hastened forward, and opening it, admitted a voice that made Albinia
hurry breathlessly from the other side of the room, and push so that
the door yielded, and she saw it had been Mr. Dusautoy who had been
holding it while there was some kind of consultation round Gilbert.
The instant he saw her, he exclaimed, 'Come to the baby, Sophy has
fallen down with him.'
People pressed about her, trying to speak cheeringly, but she
understood nothing but that her husband and Mr. Bowles were gone on,
and she had a sense that there had been hardness and cruelty in
hesitating to summon her. Without knowing that a shawl was thrown
round her, or seeing Mr. Dusautoy's offered arm, she clutched
Gilbert's wrist in her hand, and flew down the street.
The gates and front door were open, and there was a throng of people
in the hall. Lucy caught hold of her with a sobbing, 'Oh, Mamma!'
but she only framed the words with her lips--'where?'
They pointed to the study. The door was shut, but Albinia broke from
Lucy, and pushed through it, in too much haste to dwell on the
sickening doubt what it might conceal.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173