mind and heart, "It's our house--that's what Sam stopped to tell
Ruth--it's Holly Court--but I don't care--I don't care, as long as
Agnes was there, to get the children out--"

It was all instantaneous, the steward's stammering explanation,
Ruth Biggerstaff's terrified eyes, the little whimper of fear and
sympathy from the other women. Nancy felt that there was more--
more--

"What'd Sam tell you, Ruth? For God's sake--"

"Now, Nancy--now, Nancy--" said the Mrs. Biggerstaff, panting like
a frightened child, "Sam said you weren't to be frightened--we
don't know a thing--listen, dear, we'll telephone! That's what
we'll do--it was silly of me, but I thought perhaps we could keep
you from being scared--from just this--"

"But--but what did you hear, Ruth? Who sent in the alarm?" Nancy
asked, with dry lips. She was at the club, and Holly Court seemed
a thousand impassable miles away. To get home--to get home--

"Your Pauline telephoned! Nancy, wait! And she distinctly said--
Sam told this of his own accord--" Mrs. Biggerstaff had her arms
tight about Nancy, who was trembling very much. Nancy's agonized
look was fixed with pathetic childish faith upon the other woman's
eyes. "Sam told me that she distinctly said that the children were
all out with Agnes! She asked to speak to Bert, but Bert was
watching a side-line, so Sam came--"

Nancy's gaze flashed to the clock that ticked placidly over the