Outrageous Fortune Read Free Page B

them filled with flowers or sweets. “Life isn’t like that—well, she’ll soon find out,” said the day sister to herself.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said aloud, “but I’m afraid it wasn’t your cousin who was here.”
    â€œ Was ?” Caroline was the picture of dismay. “Has he gone?”
    â€œThe name was Riddell,” said the sister. “And his wife came and took him away.”
    â€œOh, his wife?”
    â€œWe let him go because she seemed so keen on it, and there was a charabanc smash we had to take in. Mrs Riddell’s one of those people who will have it their own way—at least that’s how she struck me. I’m sorry it wasn’t your cousin.”
    â€œOh,” said Caroline—“so am I.”
    â€œHe was on the Alice Arden ?”
    â€œI don’t know. Oh, I hope he wasn’t!”
    â€œIf you don’t know, I should go on hoping,” said the day sister.
    Caroline looked at her with shining eyes.
    â€œYes, I can—can’t I? You see, I haven’t seen him for a long time—oh, not since I was about fifteen—and he’s been all over the world—he’s an engineer—and he came home in July, and I was in Scotland. Then he wrote from London, and I wrote back and said why not come and join us. And he said he would. And he was going to come by coastal steamer because he liked the sea.”
    â€œThen you don’t know that he was on the Alice Arden ?”
    â€œNo. But I’m afraid—because he hasn’t written—and when I didn’t hear, I came home—and then last night there was that S.O.S., and I thought—” She stopped and fixed pleading eyes on the sister. “You’re sure it wasn’t Jim?”
    The sister nodded.
    â€œI’m afraid so. Riddell was the name, though we couldn’t be sure about it at first—Jimmy Riddell—and his wife has taken him away.”
    â€œOh—” said Caroline. “And he hadn’t any papers or anything of that sort?”
    â€œNot a thing—nothing at all, except the torn-off end of a letter.”
    â€œOh, that’s something!” Caroline’s voice thrilled. “A bit of a letter? Oh please what was on it?”
    â€œNothing but the signature,” said the day sister.
    â€œWhat? Your affectionate Uncle Alfred, or Aunt Maria, or Cousin Jemima?”
    The day sister felt a little disturbed; she did not know why.
    â€œNo—it was only the name.”
    â€œWhat name?”
    â€œJust Caroline.”
    Caroline put both hands to her head as if she were afraid that her hat would blow off in some violent, intangible wind. She felt giddy with the rush of it. It slapped her face and sang in her ears. She held on to her bright brown curls and opened her eyes as far as they would go.
    â€œCaroline?” she said in her very deepest voice.
    â€œThat’s all.”
    â€œIt’s quite enough. My dear thing, it’s more than enough—because I am Caroline.”
    â€œOh!” said the sister. Then she said, “Caroline—” in an experimental sort of way. Then she stopped dead.
    â€œCaroline Leigh,” said Caroline with a warm rush of words. “I told the girl who let me in, but I expect she forgot—or perhaps she just didn’t like the name—lots of people don’t. But I am Caroline Leigh, and I wrote to him and signed it just like that—just Caroline. And what do you think of that?”
    The sister did not seem able to think at all. She took refuge behind Nesta Riddell.
    â€œMrs Riddell said he was her husband.”
    â€œIs her name Caroline?”
    â€œI don’t know. I did ask her if she knew anyone by that name?”
    â€œAnd what did she say?”
    â€œShe said she might.”
    Caroline stopped holding her curls. The wind had blown past her and away. Her right hand took her left hand and pinched