"Give me the letter," he said. They watched him tear it open and
run his eye over it; the next instant he had gone into his
library and slammed the door in their faces.

Outside in the hall the trembling women looked at each other in
silence. Then Nannie said with a gasp, "She must have gone to--to
some friend's."

"She has no friend she would stay all night with but you."

"Well, you see she has written to Mr. Ferguson, so there can't be
anything much the matter; he'll tell us where she is, in a
minute! If he can't, I'll make Blair go and look for her. Dear,
_dear_ Miss White, don't cry!"

"There has been an accident. Oh, how shall we tell David? He's
coming to-morrow to talk over the wedding, and--"

The library door opened: "Miss White."

"Mr. Ferguson! Where--? What--?"

"Miss White, that--creature, is never to cross my threshold
again. Do you understand me? Never again. Nannie, your brother is
a scoundrel. Read that." He flung the letter on the floor between
them, and went back to his library. They heard the key turn in
the lock. Miss White stared at the shut door blankly; Nannie
picked up the letter. It was headed "The Mayor's Office," and was
dated the day before; no address was given.