"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. "Dear Uncle Robert: I married Blair Maitland this afternoon. David did not want me. E.F." They read it, looked at each other with astounded eyes, then read it again. Nannie was the first to find words: "I--don't understand." Miss White was dumb; her poor upper lip quivered wildly. "She and David are to be married," Nannie stammered. "How can she marry--anybody else? I don't understand." Then Miss White broke out, "_I_ understand. Oh, wicked boy! My child, my lamb! He has killed my child Elizabeth!" "Who has? What do you mean? What _are_ you talking about!" "He has lured her away from David," the old woman wailed shrilly. "Nannie, Nannie, your brother is an evil, cruel man--a false man, a false friend. Oh, my lamb! my girl!" Nannie, staring at her with horrified eyes, was silent. Miss White sank down on the floor, her head on the lowest step of the staircase; she was moaning to herself: "They quarrelled about something, and this is what she has done! Oh, she was mad, my lamb, my poor lamb! She was crazy; David made her angry; I don't know how. And she did this frightful thing. Oh, I always knew she would do some terrible thing when she was angry!"