"Oh, Bert--I ran so! And I didn't know--I didn't know what to be
afraid of--what to think! And I RAN so--!"
"You poor girl--you shouldn't have done it. But dearest, we're all
right now. What a scare you got--and my God, what a scare _I_ got!
But I got to her, Nance--don't look so, dear. I was in plenty of
time, and even if I hadn't been, Agnes would have got her out. She
ran all the way from Ingrams' and she was only a few minutes after
me! It's all right now, Nance."
Nancy dried her eyes, swaying back on her knees to face him.
"I was playing cards--Bert, if anything had happened I think I
should never have been sane again--"
"I was on the court, you know," Bert said. "Underhill's kid came
up, on his bicycle. He shouted at me, and I ran, and jumped into
the car, Rose following. I met Agnes, running back to the house,
with the children--I called out 'Where's Priscilla?' and she
shouted back--she shouted back:' Oh, Mr. Bradley--oh, Mr. Bradley-
-'" And overcome by the hideous recollection, Bert choked, and
began to unbutton and button the top of his daughter's little
petticoat.
"We were all out walkin'," Ned volunteered eagerly. "And Joe
Underbill went by on his bike.
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