"I sent for you, George," began Janet, "because—because——" But here her self-possession failed her, and she could go no further. She cast an appealing glance at me, as if to ask me to speak for her, then threw herself on the couch in an uncontrollable fit of weeping. Laura sat beside the sobbing girl, while Mr. Lawrence turned to me for an explanation. Judging at first sight that with a man of his type a straightforward statement would be the best, I told him in as few words as possible what had happened. [Pg 42] [Pg 42] "Uncle Robert dead!" he exclaimed. "Why, what does it mean? He had no heart trouble that we knew of. Was it apoplexy?" "I think so," I replied. "Two doctors are in there now, holding a consultation." "Two doctors?" exclaimed Mr. Lawrence. "Who are they?" "Doctor Masterson, who was, I believe, your late uncle's physician, and Doctor Post, who lives in this house." "Which came first?" asked Mr. Lawrence. By this time Miss Pembroke, who seemed to be subject to sudden changes of demeanor, took it upon herself to answer his question. She had stopped crying, and again showed that icy calmness which I could not yet understand. "I sent for Doctor Masterson," she said. "I thought uncle was only ill, but when the doctor came he said he was dead; and then he wanted another doctor, so Mr. Landon very kindly went for Doctor Post." "Why did he want Doctor Post, if Uncle Robert was already dead?" demanded Lawrence. "To help him to discover what caused uncle's death." "Then we must await the result of their consultation," he replied. He seemed about to say something[Pg 43] else, but checked himself. I could readily understand why he should hesitate to say in the presence of strangers many things that he might have said to his cousin had they been alone. [Pg 43]
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