Henrietta
dressed quickly. 'I'm going for the doctor,' she told Rose, who was
already putting on her coat, and Henrietta noticed that she still wore
her evening gown. She had not been to bed, and for a moment Henrietta
forgot her Aunt Caroline and stared at her Aunt Rose.
'I am going,' Rose said quietly. 'Oh, hadn't you better stay here?
Aunt Sophia is in such a fuss.'
'We'll go together,' Rose said. 'I can't let you go alone.'
Henrietta laughed a little. This care was so unnecessary for one who
had given herself to a future full of peril.
They went out in the cold darkness of the morning, walking very fast
and now and then breaking into a run, and with them there walked a
shadowy third person, keeping them apart. It was strange to be yoked
together by Caroline's danger and securely separated by this shadow.
They did not speak, they had nothing to say, yet both thought, What
difference is this going to make? But on their way back, when the
doctor had been roused and they had his promise to come quickly,
Henrietta's fear burst the bonds of her reserve. 'You don't think she
is going to die, do you?'
Rose put her arm through Henrietta's. 'Oh, Henrietta, I hope not. No,
no, I'm not going to believe that, 'and, temporarily united, the third
person left behind though following closely, they returned to the
lighted house. As they stood in the hall they could hear the rasping
sound of Caroline's breathing.
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