You wouldn't mind helping us a bit, Matilda ?" Mrs.De Peyster had one supreme thought.

If they went upstairs, they might run into the other Matilda.

The frantic, drowning impulse to put off disaster every possible moment caused her to clutch Jack's arm.
"There's--something to eat--in the dining-room.

Perhaps you'd like--" "Great idea, Matilda! Lead on." Mrs.De Peyster gave thanks that all the lights but one had been switched off.

And fortunately the light from that one shaded bulb was almost lost in the great dining-room.