Chapter 6

VI

For four days after their Sunday in the Park the Bunner
sisters had no news of Mr. Ramy. At first neither one betrayed her
disappointment and anxiety to the other; but on the fifth morning
Evelina, always the first to yield to her feelings, said, as she
turned from her untasted tea: "I thought you'd oughter take that
money out by now, Ann Eliza."

Ann Eliza understood and reddened. The winter had been a
fairly prosperous one for the sisters, and their slowly accumulated
savings had now reached the handsome sum of two hundred
dollars; but the satisfaction they might have felt in this unwonted
opulence had been clouded by a suggestion of Miss Mellins's that
there were dark rumours concerning the savings bank in which their
funds were deposited. They knew Miss Mellins was given to vain
alarms; but her words, by the sheer force of repetition, had so
shaken Ann Eliza's peace that after long hours of midnight counsel
the sisters had decided to advise with Mr. Ramy; and on Ann Eliza,
as the head of the house, this duty had devolved. Mr. Ramy, when
consulted, had not only confirmed the dress-maker's report, but had
offered to find some safe investment which should give the sisters
a higher rate of interest than the suspected savings bank; and Ann
Eliza knew that Evelina alluded to the suggested transfer.

"Why, yes, to be sure," she agreed. "Mr. Ramy said if he was
us he wouldn't want to leave his money there any longer'n he could
help."

"It was over a week ago he said it," Evelina reminded her.

"I know; but he told me to wait till he'd found out for sure
about that other investment; and we ain't seen him since then."

Ann Eliza's words released their secret fear. "I wonder
what's happened to him," Evelina said. "You don't suppose he could
be sick?"

"I was wondering too," Ann Eliza rejoined; and the sisters
looked down at their plates.

"I should think you'd oughter do something about that money
pretty soon," Evelina began again.

"Well, I know I'd oughter. What would you do if you was me?"

"If I was YOU," said her sister, with perceptible
emphasis and a rising blush, "I'd go right round and see if Mr.
Ramy was sick. YOU could."

The words pierced Ann Eliza like a blade. "Yes, that's so,"
she said.

"It would only seem friendly, if he really IS sick. If
I was you I'd go to-day," Evelina continued; and after dinner Ann
Eliza went.

On the way she had to leave a parcel at the dyer's, and having
performed that errand she turned toward Mr. Ramy's shop. Never
before had she felt so old, so hopeless and humble. She knew she
was bound on a love-errand of Evelina's, and the knowledge seemed
to dry the last drop of young