business.'
There was a silence at the other end of the wire. Then a voice, with
the calm of desperation, said: 'Thank you.' There was a pause. 'Thank
you,' said the voice again in a crushed sort of way, and the receiver
was hung up. Ruth went back to Sybil.
The hours passed. How she got through them Ruth hardly knew. Time
seemed to have stopped. For the most part they sat in silence. In the
afternoon Sybil was allowed to see Bailey for a few minutes. She
returned thoughtful. She kissed Ruth before she sat down, and once or
twice after that Ruth, looking up, found her eyes fixed upon her. It
seemed to Ruth that there was something which she was trying to say,
but she asked no questions.
After dinner they sat out on the porch. It was a perfect night. The
cool dusk was soothing.
Ruth broke a long silence.
'Sybil!'
'Yes, dear?'
'May I tell you something?'
'Well?'
'I'm afraid it's bad news.'
Sybil turned quickly.
'You called up the office while I was with Bailey?'
Ruth started.
'How did you know?'
'I guessed. I have been trying to do it all day, but I hadn't the
pluck. Well?'
'I'm afraid things are about as bad as they can be. A Mr. Meadows spoke
to me. He was very gloomy. He told me a lot of things which I couldn't
follow, details of what had happened, but I understood all that was
necessary, I'm afraid......'
'Bailey's ruined?' said Sybil quietly.
'Mr. Meadows seemed to think so. He may have exaggerated.'
Sybil shook her head.
'No. Bailey was talking to me upstairs. I expected it.'
There was a long silence.
'Ruth.'
'Yes?'
'I'm afraid...'
Sybil stopped.
'Yes?'
A sudden light of understanding came to Ruth. She knew what it was that
Sybil was trying to say, had been trying to say ever since she spoke
with Bailey.
'My money has gone, too? Is that it?'
Sybil did not answer. Ruth went quickly to her and took her in her
arms.
'You poor baby,' she cried. 'Was that what was on your mind, wondering
how you should tell me? I knew there was something troubling you.'
Sybil began to sob.
