Part 33 (1/2)

CHAPTER x.x.xII

BOB DRAWS CONCLUSIONS TOO

It was Edith who told me the news about Mrs. Sewall. I ought to have been prepared for anything. Ever since Ruth had been employed as secretary to Mrs. Sewall there had been something mysterious about their relations. Ruth had never explained the details of her life in the Sewall household--I had never inquired too particularly--but whenever she referred to Mrs. Sewall there was a troubled and sort of wistful expression in her eyes which made me suspicious. She admired Mrs.

Sewall, no doubt of that. She felt deep affection for her. Several times she had said to me during our intimate talks together, of which we had had a good many lately, ”Oh, Lucy, I wish the ocean wasn't so wide. I'd run across for over a Sunday.” I knew, without asking, that Ruth was thinking of Mrs. Sewall. She was living in London.

Edith called me on the telephone early one Monday morning. She frequently is in Boston, shopping. From the hour, evidently she had just arrived from Hilton.

”Well,” she began excitedly, ”what have you got to say?”

”Say? What about?”

”Haven't you seen the paper?” she demanded.

”Not yet,” I had to confess. ”I've been terribly rushed this morning.”

”You don't know what has happened, then?”

”No. What has? Out with it,” I retorted a little alarmed. Edith's voice was high-pitched and strained.

”The old lady Sewall has died.”

”Oh, I'm sorry,” I replied, relieved, however.

”In London--a week ago,” went on Edith.

”Really? What a shame! Does Ruth know?”

”She ought to. It rather affects her.”

”How's that?”

”How's that!” repeated Edith. ”Good heavens, if you'd read your paper you'd understand how. The old lady's will is published. It's terribly thrilling.”

The color mounted to my face. ”What do you mean, Edith?”

”Never you mind. You go along and read for yourself, and then meet me at one o'clock--no, make it twelve. I've got to talk to some one--quick. I never saw the article myself until I was on the train coming down. I'm just about bursting. Good gracious, Lucy, hustle up, and make it eleven o'clock, sharp.”

We agreed on a meeting-place and I hung up the receiver, went upstairs to my room, sat down, and opened the paper. I found the article Edith referred to easily enough. It was on the inside of the front page printed underneath large letters. It was appalling! The third sentence of the headlines contained my sister's name. There must be some mistake. Wasn't such news as this borne by a lawyer with proper ceremony and form, or at least delivered by mail, inside an envelope sealed with red wax? Ruth had known nothing of this three days ago when I called to see her. It could not be true. All the way into Boston on the electric car, I felt self-conscious and ill-at-ease. I was afraid some one I knew would meet me, and refer to the newspaper announcement. I would dislike to confess, ”I know no more about it than you.” I hate newspaper notoriety anyhow.

Edith greeted me as if we hadn't met for years, kissed me ecstatically and grasped both my hands tight in hers. Her sparkling eyes expressed what the publicity of the hotel corridor, where we met, prevented her from proclaiming aloud.

”Where can we go to be alone for half a minute?” she whispered.

”Let's try in here,” I said, and we entered a deserted reception-room, and sat down in a bay-window.

”Did you telephone to Ruth?” was Edith's first remark.

I shook my head. ”No. I didn't like to,” I said.