Tavia was flushed and nervous when Dorothy helped her to dress for the interview.

“Now don’t you mind it a bit,” said Dorothy.  “Just keep thinking that you might have been very seriously injured, and that the railroad people should be more careful for the sake of others.  Then you will forget all about the lawyers and their statements.”

Mrs. White was talking to the men in the reception room.  Certainly the shock had been severe, she said, and only the fact that Miss Travers was unusually lively in temperament had saved her from more serious results.

Dorothy entered the room with Tavia.

“These are the young ladies,” said Mr. French, introducing them.  “This one was shut in the room with the fire.”

Tavia felt her face flush, and her nerves throb painfully.  It was so embarassing to be the object of such scrutiny.

Then began a fire of questions, Mr. French in every instance indicating how Tavia should answer.  The railroad lawyer, Mr. Banks, trying of course, to trip Tavia into admitting that the lamp exploded first, and the bottle blew up after.  But Tavia was positive in declaring that the blaze came from the far corner of the room, whereas the stove was directly at her side.  This was also indicated by a map which Mr. French produced, and upon which Tavia marked the various spots where the bench stood, where the marble slab with the stove was situated, and where the bottle appeared to come from—­a far corner of the slab.

“Will you let down your hair, please,” said Mr. French, and Dorothy promptly drew the pins from Tavia’s tresses, allowing the unscorched braid to fall below her waist, while the burnt ends were charred almost to her neck, the red scar showing how close to her head the flames had really crept.

“That is a loss, of course,” said Mr. French, taking the long waves in his hand, “but it shows the great danger her life was in.  Also, Mr. Banks, notice this scar.  That was dressed on the train by Dr. Brown, of Fairview.”

Both lawyers examined the scar.  Tavia felt as if she would run from the room, the very moment they took their hands off her, but Dorothy smiled encouragingly, and Mrs. White rang for a maid to fetch a glass of water.  This had the effect of distracting Tavia, who now stood there being cross-examined like an expert witness.

Finally Mr. French said: 

“That will do, thank you.”

Tavia had barely tasted the water, and as she crossed the room to reach her chair, she felt dizzy.  The next moment she was in Mrs. White’s arms, unconscious.

“I saw she was pale,” exclaimed the lady, while the gentlemen opened the windows and Dorothy ran for some restoratives.  “But I did not think she would go off like that.”

It did not take long, however, to revive the fainting girl, and when she had been helped to her room the lawyers held a conference with Mrs. White and then left the Cedars.