Page:Chipperfield--Unseen Hands.djvu/18

6 causes: accidents. If you do not still that mad tongue of yours I will have you put away!"

He strode from the room, and Randall laughed shrilly.

"You see? Can't bear to have his innermost thoughts brought to the light of day!"

But the others were not listening. Instead they were glancing about as he had bade them; and each read in the eyes of the others the nameless thing which had been locked in their own breasts for an interminable week.

In all eyes save those of their mother's sister, Miss Effie; they shone through her tears with an almost fanatical light. After a moment of silence she rose and put her arm tenderly about the cripple's shoulders.

"Come, Rannie, you are all overwrought, and the fever mustn't rise again. You know what pain it always brings. Lie on the couch in my room and let me read to you for a while."

The boy flung her off impatiently.

"Let me alone, Aunt Effie! I'm not a child, I tell you! I'm wise; wiser than all of you!"

Nevertheless, he suffered her to lead him from the room and preceded her when, on the threshold, she turned.

"You'll find the light just right, I think, over the desk, Gene," she said. "Don't work too late, dear. There are so many letters, and I can find time to help you in the morning."

As the door closed Christine began to sob hysterically.

"I'm going to get out of this dreadful house to-morrow!" she cried. "I've felt ever since p-poor Julian was found as if s-something were hanging over my h-head! I'm