"I don't suppose there is much use in waiting any longer, or ringing again." Mrs.Van Dorn, who had been staring intently at the door, looked quickly at her companion with a curious expression.

Her face had flushed.
"What is it ?" asked Mrs.Lee.

"You don't suppose any one is in there and not coming to the door ?" Mrs.Lee had a somewhat suspicious nature.
"No; I don't think there is a soul in that house, but--" "But what ?" "Nothing, only--" "Only what ?" "Why, don't you see what they have done ?" "I am afraid I don't quite know what you mean," Mrs.Lee returned, in a puzzled way.

It was quite evident that Mrs.Van Dorn wished her to grasp something which her own mind had mastered, that she wished it without further explanation, and Mrs.Lee felt bewilderedly apologetic that she could not comply.
"Don't you see that they have gone off and left the front door unlocked ?" said Mrs.Van Dorn, with inflections of embarrassment, eagerness, and impatience.

If she and Mrs.Lee had been, as of yore, school-children together, she would certainly have said, "You ninny!" to finish.
"Why!" returned Mrs.Lee, with a sort of gasp.