Markham came first, and though when she saw Madeleine she turned very white and seemed about to faint, she bravely went at once toward the girl, and gently tried to raise the fallen head. 

She felt a firm grasp on her shoulder, and turned to see Miss Morton, with a stern, set face, at her side. 

“Don’t touch her,” said Miss Morton, in a whisper. “Telephone for a doctor quickly.” 

“But she’s dead,” declared Mrs. Markham, at the same time bursting into violent sobs. 

“We do not know; we hope not,” went on Miss Morton, and without another word she led Mrs. Markham to a sofa, and sat her down rather suddenly, and then went herself straight to the telephone. 

As she reached it she paused only to inquire the name of the family physician. 

Harris, the butler, with difficulty articulated the name of Doctor Hills and his telephone number, and without further inquiry Miss Morton called for him. 

“Is this Doctor Hills?” she said when her call was answered. “Yes; this is the Van Norman house. Come here at once. . . . No matter; you must come at once—it is very important—a matter of life and death. . . . I am Miss Morton. I am in charge here. Yes, come immediately! Good-by.” 

Miss Morton hung up the receiver and turned to the frightened group of servants. 

“You can do nothing,” she said, “and you may as well return to your rooms. Harris may stay, and one of the parlor maids.” 

Miss Morton had an imperious air, and instinctively the servants obeyed her. 

But Cicely Dupuy was not so ready to accept the dictum of a stranger. She stepped forward and, facing Miss Morton, said quietly, “Mrs. Markham is housekeeper, as well as Miss Van Norman’s chaperon. The servants are accustomed to take their orders from her.” 

Miss Morton returned Cicely’s direct gaze. “You see Mrs. Markham,” she said, pointing to the sofa, where that lady had entirely collapsed, and, with her head in a pillow, was shaking with convulsive sobs. “She is for the moment quite incapable of giving orders. As the oldest person present, and as a life-long friend of Mr. Richard Van Norman, I shall take the liberty of directing affairs in the present crisis.” Then, in a softer tone and with a glance toward Madeleine, Miss Morton continued, “I 

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