Part 10 (1/2)
”I have called this morning----”
The left hand of the writer rose and waggled itself irritably above her left shoulder.
”Aunt Lora,” spoke Bailey sternly.
”s.h.i.+s.h.!.+” said the auth.o.r.ess. Only that and nothing more. Bailey, outraged, relapsed into silence. The pen squeaked on.
After what seemed to Bailey a considerable time, the writing ceased. It was succeeded by the sound of paper vigorously blotted. Then, with startling suddenness, Mrs. Porter whirled round on the swivel-chair, tilted it back, and faced him.
”Well, Bailey?” she said.
She looked at Bailey. Bailey looked at her. Her eyes had the curious effect of driving out of his head what he had intended to say.
”Well?” she said again.
He tried to remember the excellent opening speech which he had prepared in the cab.
”Good gracious, Bailey!” cried Mrs. Porter, ”you have not come here and ruined my morning's work for the pleasure of looking at me surely? Say something.”
Bailey found his voice.
”I have called to see Ruth, who, I am informed, is with you.”
”She is in her room. I made her breakfast in bed. Is there any message I can give her?”
Bailey suddenly remembered the speech he had framed in the cab.
”Aunt Lora,” he said, ”I am sorry to have to intrude upon you at so early an hour, but it is imperative that I see Ruth and ask her to explain the meaning of a most disturbing piece of news that has come to my ears.”
Mrs. Porter did not appear to have heard him.
”A man of your height should weigh more,” she said. ”What is your weight?”
”My weight; beside the point----”
”Your weight is under a hundred and forty pounds, and it ought to be over a hundred and sixty. Eat more. Avoid alcohol. Keep regular hours.”
”Aunt Lora!”
”Well?”
”I wish to see my sister.”
”You will have to wait. What did you wish to see her about?”
”That is a matter that concerns----No! I will tell you, for I believe you to be responsible for the whole affair.”
”Well?”
”Last night, quite by chance, I found out that Ruth has for some time been paying visits to the studio of an artist.”