Elsie Holland nodded comprehendingly and led the way into the dining room on the other side of the hall.

“It’s been awful for him,” she said. “Such a shock. Who ever would have thought a thing like this could happen? But of course, I do realize now that she had been queer for some time. Awfully nervy and weepy. I thought it was her health, though Dr. Griffith always said there was nothing really wrong with her. But she was snappy and irritable and some days you wouldn’t know just how to take her.”

“What we really came for,” said Joanna, “was to know whether we could have Megan for a few days—that, is if she’d like to come.”

Elsie Holland looked rather surprised.

“Megan?” she said doubtfully. “I don’t know, I’m sure. I mean, it’s ever so kind of you, but she’s such a queer girl. One never knows what she’s going to say or feel about things.”

Joanna said rather vaguely:

“We thought it might be a help, perhaps.”

“Oh well, as far as that goes, it would. I mean, I’ve got the boys to look after (they’re with Cook just now) and poor Mr. Symmington—he really needs looking after as much as anyone, and such a lot to do and see to. I really haven’t had time to see much to Megan. I think she’s upstairs in the old nursery at the top of the house. She seems to want to get away from everyone. I don’t know if—”

Joanna gave me the faintest of looks. I slipped quickly out of the room and upstairs. The old nursery was at the top of the house. I opened the door and went in. The room downstairs had given on to the garden behind and the blinds had not been down there. But in this room which faced the road they were decorously drawn down.

Through a dim grey gloom I saw Megan. She was crouching on a divan set against the far wall, and I was reminded at once of some terrified animal, hiding. She looked petrified with fear.

“Megan,” I said.

I came forward, and unconsciously I adopted the tone one does adopt when you want to reassure a frightened animal. I’m really surprised I didn’t hold out a carrot or a piece of sugar. I felt like that.

She stared at me, but she did not move, and her expression did not alter.

“Megan,” I said again. “Joanna and I have come to ask you if you would like to come and stay with us for a little.”

Her voice came hollowly out of the dim twilight.

“Stay with you? In your house?”

“Yes.”

“You mean, you’ll take me away from here?”

“Yes, my dear.”

Suddenly she began to shake all over. It was frightening and very moving.

“Oh, do take me away! Please do. It’s so awful, being here, and feeling so wicked.”

I came over to her and her hands fastened on my coat sleeve.