With a start she woke to the realization of her position and of the suggestive words she had just uttered, and with a glance behind her at Letty and another at Nixon and the maids, who by this time had pushed their way to the foot of the stairs, she gathered herself up with a determination born of the necessity of the moment and emphatically replied: "No; I do not know Mr.Steele well enough for that.

My emotion at the unexpected tidings of his possible death springs from another cause." Here the help, the explanation for which she had been searching, came.
"Girls," she went on, addressing them with an emphasis which drew all eyes, "I am ashamed to tell you what has so deeply disturbed me these last few days.

I should blame any one of you for being affected as I was.

The great love I bear my husband and child is my excuse--a poor one, I know, but one you will understand.

A week ago something happened to me in the library which frightened me very much.