She looked quite spruce and well. But she was carrying a suitcase. I thought at the time it was strange. Maybe I’d better find a key to open her door, if you say.”

“I wish you would.”

He set down the tray and hurried down the servants’ hall, Jennifer following. He pulled out a bunch of keys and selected a master key. After a minute he unlocked the door and swung it back, and they went into the room together. But it was evident at once that the occupant had fled. There were papers and trash in a pile on the floor, and the closet door was flung wide and empty. There wasn’t a sign of a trunk or anything around. The nurse was gone.

“Well, that settles it, Miss Jennifer; if the nurse has left you in the lurch, I’ll stay till you’re satisfied. I couldn’t leave you that way. I was afraid when you spoke about her that she had gone. You see, she and Mrs. Holbrook had words last night about how to manage Master Robin, and I heard her say she wouldn’t run any risks of having that woman tell her again what to do.”

“Oh,” said Jennifer, with an enlightened look. “I didn’t know that. I’m glad you told me. I’m going to take care of the children myself for a while, anyway. You know, they miss Father and Mother terribly. So you don’t need to worry. And you must go right along to your mother, Stanton. I really shall not need you. Just give me your address before you leave.”

“That I will, Miss Jennifer. And if you need me, you’ve only to let me know and I’ll come at once. And now I’ll just take my bags and trunk down to the side entrance and get the express to come after them. I know the chauffeur is gone. He told me before he left how kind you have been.”

“Why no, Stanton, I’m sure Jeremy would love to take you down. Wait, I’ll speak to him.”

Jeremy came willingly. This was going to give him a chance to put the old car in condition to travel. So presently Stanton had his baggage ready and was off.

At the last he did not wait to go into the kitchen, and so it was Jennifer who announced his departure to Maggie the cook and Letty the waitress.

“Stanton had to go away in a great hurry,” she said. “He got a message that his mother was very sick and wanted to see him at once, and I made him go immediately.” She said it with a smile.

“Poor man,” said Maggie wistfully, “he’s that fond of his mother.