And now there was indeed alarm through the big house.  Not knowing where to look, each fell in the other’s way, quite as much concerned for Mr. King’s well-being; for the old gentleman was reduced to such a state by the fright that the entire household had all they could do to keep him in bounds.

“Madame is not to come home to luncheon,” announced Hortense to Mrs. Whitney in the midst of the excitement.  “She told me to tell you that de Mees Taylor met her at de modiste, and took her home with her.”

Mrs. Whitney made no reply, but raised her eyes swollen with much crying, to the maid’s face.

“Hortense, run as quickly as possible down to Dr. Fisher’s office, and tell him to come home.”

“Thomas should be sent,” said Hortense, with a toss of her head.  “It’s not de work for me.  Beside I am Madame’s maid.”

“Do you go at once,” commanded Mrs. Whitney, with a light in her blue eyes that the maid never remembered seeing.  She was even guilty of stamping her pretty foot in the exigency, and Hortense slowly gathered herself up.

“I will go, Madame,” with the air of conferring a great favor, “only I do not such t’ings again.”

XVII

PHRONSIE IS FOUND

“I am glad that you agree with me.”  Mrs. Chatterton bestowed a complacent smile upon the company.

“But we don’t in the least agree with you,” said Madame Dyce, her stiff brocade rustling impatiently in the effort to put her declaration before the others, “not in the least.”

“Ah?  Well, you must allow that I have good opportunities to judge.  The Pepper entanglement can be explained only by saying that my cousin’s mental faculties are impaired.”

“The rest of the family are afflicted in the same way, aren’t they?” remarked Hamilton Dyce nonchalantly.

“Humph! yes.”  Mrs. Chatterton’s still shapely shoulders allowed themselves a shrug intended to reveal volumes.  “What Jasper Horatio King believes, the rest of the household accept as law and gospel.  But it’s no less infatuation.”

“I’ll not hear one word involving those dear Peppers,” cried Madame Dyce.  “If I could, I’d have them in my house.  And it’s a most unrighteous piece of work, in my opinion, to endeavor to arouse prejudice against them.  It goes quite to my heart to remember their struggles all those years.”

Mrs. Chatterton turned on her with venom.  Was all the world arrayed against her, to take up with those hateful interlopers in her cousin’s home?  She made another effort.  “I should have credited you with more penetration into motives than to allow yourself to be deceived by such a woman as Mrs. Pepper.”

“Do give her the name that belongs to her.  I believe she’s Mrs. Dr. Fisher, isn’t she?” drawled Livingston Bayley, a budding youth, with a moustache that occasioned him much thought, and a solitary eyeglass.