We would have stayed longer, but it began to get chilly, and I forgot to take one of the shawls that I'd laid out." "Yes; well, if you will see, please, if Billy has been there, and when she left," said Bertram, with grim self-control.
"All right.

I'll see," murmured Aunt Hannah.

In a few moments her voice again sounded across the wires.

"Why, no, Bertram, Rosa says she hasn't been here since yesterday.

Isn't she there somewhere about the house?
Didn't you know where she was going ?" "Well, no, I didn't--else I shouldn't have been asking you," snapped the irate Bertram and hung up the receiver with most rude haste, thereby cutting off an astounded "Oh, my grief and conscience!" in the middle of it.
The next ten minutes Bertram spent in going through the whole house, from garret to basement.