Page:The Breath of Scandal (1922).djvu/76

 big, happy, strong man who was her father! Faith in him and unsuspicion; why they were so absolute and natural to her that she could not even be aware of them. For her to think of herself trusting her father was to hold an idea of the possibility of the opposite which never could have occurred to her.

"Father!" Gregg had to hear again her sweet, steady voice. She made it steady when speaking to her father; she would! And the sweetness of it seemed to halt Gregg's heart. "It's Marjorie, father, dear; I'm here now, father—father" Then, "I know he doesn't hear me, doctor. I know; but" her voice almost broke; and no one else spoke. She was kissing her father, Gregg knew, for a sob broke from Billy; and Grantham had to clear his throat.

"Come now; come now," Billy managed in a minute.

Billy brought her out of the bedroom and Gregg jerked himself together. "Doctor Grantham's sent for an ambulance to take him to a hospital," he said cheerfully. "It ought to be here any minute now."

"What hospital? "Marjorie asked.

"St. Luke's, I suppose," Gregg replied, watching her. She was gazing about the room but not critically or even wonderingly. He felt sure she was not thinking about the apartment at all; or about Mr. and Mrs. Russell who, she supposed, inhabited it; her eyes merely wandered absently. She still was thinking wholly of her father and now, after the shock of seeing him, she was shaking so violently that she was scarcely able to stand.

"Sit down here, Marjorie; or lie down," Billy begged her, emotionally; and he cleared the silk cushions from the lounge.

She stared at him and suddenly started up straight.