Chapter 7
823 Words
Subscribe for ad free access & additional features for teachers. Authors: 267, Books: 3,607, Poems & Short Stories: 4,435, Forum Members: 71,154, Forum Posts: 1,238,602, Quizzes: 344
The Weldons and their guests were greeted at their door by a maid, for there were no men among the house servants, and as Louise ushered the party into the living room she said to the girl:
The maid departed and was gone so long that Louise started out to see why her order was not obeyed. She met the woman coming back with a puzzled face.
Louise rushed to the nursery, followed by Arthur, whose quick ears had overheard the statement. The young mother bent over the crib, the covers of which were thrown back as if the infant had been quickly caught upperhaps from a sound sleep.
Louise and her husband looked into one anothers eyes and their faces grew rigid and white. Uncle John, noting their terror, spoke again.
This is absurd, said he. Two competent nurses, both devoted to little Jane, would not allow the baby to come to harm, I assure you.
Gone? Nonsense, said Beth, gazing into the empty cradle. Then she put down her hand and felt of the bedding. It had no warmth. Evidently the child had been removed long ago.
Before we give way to hysterics, advised Uncle John, striving to appear calm, let us investigate this matter sensibly. Babies dont disappear mysteriously, in these days, I assure you.
Thats the idea, squeaked a high tenor voice, and there in the dim light stood big Bulwer Runyon, and with him little Rudolph and his wife Helen, all exhibiting astonished and disturbed countenances.
II cant see any reason for worry, Louise, dear, remarked Mrs. Hahn, in a voice that trembled with agitation. Not a soul on earth would harm that precious Jane.
Presently they congregated in the roomy nursery, which had now been brilliantly lighted. There were five womensome old and some young, but all Mexicansand a little withered c******n named Sing Fing, whose age was uncertain and whose yellow face seemed incapable of expression.
Uncle John, assisted at times by Rudolph and Arthur, did the questioning. Marcia had seen Miss Travers leave the house, alone, at about two oclock, as if for a walk. She did not notice which way the nurse went nor whether she returned. Perhaps she wore a cloak; Marcia could not tell. The day was warm; doubtless Miss Travers had no wraps at all. A hat? Oh, no. She would have noticed a hat.
The only one who recollected seeing Inez was Eulalia, a chambermaid. She had observed Inez sitting in the court, in a despondent attitude, at about half past two. Yes; it might have been a little earlier; it was hard to remember. None of the house servants paid much attention to the nurses. They had their own duties to perform.
But the baby had not been seen at all; not since Inez had brought her in from her ride at noon. Then it was Miss Travers who had taken the child from the cab and with her disappeared into the nursery.
This report did not prove reassuring. Sing Fing announced that Miss Travers had prepared the babys liquid food in the kitchen at half past twelve, but that neither she nor Inez had joined the other servants at luncheon. This last was not an unusual occurrence, it seemed, but taken in connection with the other circumstances it impressed the questioners as suspicious.
Its all right, you know, consolingly panted Dolph, on the way. The baby and her nurses cant be lost, strayed or stolen, so dont worry.
Common sense urges me to agree with you, returned Arthur, but theres certainly something mysterious about the disappearance.
The men were all at work in the olive groves, but some of the women were in the huts and old Bella listened to Arthurs frantic questions with blank amazement, as did the others who hastily congregated.
It doesnt matter, suggested Dolph. We know that both the nurses were in the house afterward. The main point is that the baby is not here.
As they started to return they came face to face with old Miguel. The shadow was deep beneath the trees but there was no mistaking the Mexicans snow-white hair.
She jealous of New York girlMees Travers. Inez say she kill Mees Travers; but I tell her no. I say better not. But Inez hate thees girl for taking Mees Jane away from her. Inez love baby, Meest Weld; too much to be safe nurse.
Art of Worldly Wisdom Daily
In the 1600s, Balthasar Gracian, a jesuit priest wrote 300 aphorisms on living life called "The Art of Worldly Wisdom." Join our newsletter below and read them all, one at a time.
Email:
Sonnet-a-Day Newsletter
Shakespeare wrote over 150 sonnets! Join our Sonnet-A-Day Newsletter and read them all, one at a time.
Email:
- Writer
