CHAPTER XLIII.
HAROLD AND JERRIE.
The news which so electrified all Shannondale was slow in reaching Mrs.
Crawford, but it did reach her at last, crushing and overwhelming her with a sense of shame and anguish, until as the day wore on, Grace Atherton, and Mrs.St.Claire, and Nina, and many others came to reassure her, and to say that it was all a mistake, which would be soon cleared up.
Thus comforted and consoled, she tried to be calm, and wait patiently for the train.

But there was a great pity for her boy in her heart as she sat by Jerrie's bedside and watched her in all her varying moods, now perfectly quiet, with her wide open eyes staring up at the ceiling as if she were seeing something there, now talking of Peterkin, and the Tramp House, and the table, and the blow, and again of the bag, which she said was lost, and which her grandmother must find.
Thinking she meant the carpet bag, Mrs.Crawford brought that to her, but she tossed it aside impatiently saying: 'No, no; the other one, which tells it all.

Where is it! I must have lost it.

Find it, find it.

To be so near, and yet so far.