"Oh, perhaps she has gone over the ferry to Porter's Falls with
Addie. She often does. Addie's got an aunt over there, and
Addie's got a cousin, a real pretty boy."

"You suppose she's gone over there?"

"Mebbe. I shouldn't wonder."

"When should she be home?"

"Oh, not before afternoon."

Rebecca waited with all the patience she could muster. She kept
reassuring herself, telling herself that it was all natural, that
the other woman could not help it, but she made up her mind that if
Agnes did not return that afternoon she should be sent for.

When it was four o'clock she started up with resolution. She had
been furtively watching the onyx clock on the sitting-room mantel;
she had timed herself. She had said that if Agnes was not home by
that time she should demand that she be sent for. She rose and
stood before Mrs. Dent, who looked up coolly from her embroidery.

"I've waited just as long as I'm going to," she said. "I've come
'way from Michigan to see my own sister's daughter and take her
home with me. I've been here ever since yesterday--twenty-four
hours--and I haven't seen her. Now I'm going to. I want her sent
for."

Mrs. Dent folded her embroidery and rose.