"I'm so glad you could let me!" he said, "and I want to ask
you now when I may come again. But if you need me, you'll----"
A sharp pull at the door-bell outside made them start asunder,
and at a sign from Penelope, who knew that the maids
were abed by this time, he opened it.
"Why, Irene!" shrieked the girl.
Irene entered with the hackman, who had driven her unheard
to the door, following with her small bags, and kissed
her sister with resolute composure. "That's all," she said
to the hackman. "I gave my checks to the expressman,"
she explained to Penelope.
Corey stood helpless. Irene turned upon him, and gave
him her hand. "How do you do, Mr. Corey?" she said,
with a courage that sent a thrill of admiring gratitude
through him. "Where's mamma, Pen? Papa gone to bed?"
Penelope faltered out some reply embodying the facts,
and Irene ran up the stairs to her mother's room.
Mrs. Lapham started up in bed at her apparition.
"Irene Lapham"
"Uncle William thought he ought to tell me the trouble
papa was in; and did you think I was going to stay off
there junketing, while you were going through all this
at home, and Pen acting so silly, too? You ought to have
been ashamed to let me stay so long! I started just as soon
as I could pack. Did you get my despatch? I telegraphed
from Springfield.
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