She glanced cautiously about her. Assured she was alone, with
her other hand she lifted the one Winthrop had kissed and held
it pressed against her lips.
The folding doors were thrown open, letting in a flood of light,
and Mabel Vance, entering swiftly, knelt at the table and bent
her head close to Vera.
"That woman's in the hall," she whispered, "that niece of
Hallowell's. Paul and Mannie can't get rid of her. Now she's got
hold of Winthrop. She says she will see you. Be careful!"
Vera rose. That Mabel might not see she had been weeping, she
walked to the piano, covertly drying her eyes.
"What," she asked dully, "does she want with me?"
"About tonight," answered Mabel. She exclaimed fiercely, "I told
them there'd be trouble!"
With Vance upon her heels, Helen Coates came in quickly from the
hall. Her face was flushed, her eyes lit with indignation and
excitement. In her hand she held an open letter.
As though to protect Vera, both Vance and his wife moved between
her and their visitor, but, disregarding them, Miss Coates at
once singled out the girl as her opponent.
"You are the young woman they call Vera, I believe," she said.
"I have a note here from Mr. Hallowell telling me you are giving
a seance tonight at his house. That you propose to exhibit the
spirit of my mother. That is an insult to the memory of my
mother and to me. And I warn you, if you attempt such a thing, I
will prevent it."
There was a pause.
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