and Anne was pale and speechless with fright. But they were all
together, father, mother, and children, and that was all that
mattered in the world--all that would ever count, for Nancy,
again.

"Don't cry, dearest!" said Bert, the tears streaming down his own
blackened face. "She's all right, dear! We're all here, safe and
sound, we're all right!"

But Nancy cried on, her arms strained about them all, her wet face
against her husband's, and his arm tight across her shoulder.

"Oh, Bert--I ran so! And I didn't know--I didn't know what to be
afraid of--what to think! And I RAN so--!"

"You poor girl--you shouldn't have done it. But dearest, we're all
right now. What a scare you got--and my God, what a scare _I_ got!
But I got to her, Nance--don't look so, dear. I was in plenty of
time, and even if I hadn't been, Agnes would have got her out. She
ran all the way from Ingrams' and she was only a few minutes after
me! It's all right now, Nance."

Nancy dried her eyes, swaying back on her knees to face him.

"I was playing cards--Bert, if anything had happened I think I
should never have been sane again--"

"I was on the court, you know," Bert said. "Underhill's kid came
up, on his bicycle. He shouted at me, and I ran, and jumped into
the car, Rose following. I met Agnes, running back to the house,