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Sean—”
    â€œSean will do very well where he is for one night,” said Aunt Molly. “I’d like to know the Irishman who can’t deal with a night in jail! Patrick can telephone to the police station to tell them you’re well and safe, and they’ll tell Sean, and that will relieve his mind. Now, shall we see if your clothing is dry enough to wear? Or would you rather stay as you are and have a tray sent up to you?”
    â€œI’ll dress, thank you, Mrs. Malloy.” The older woman’s matter-of-fact attitude was steadying Norah.
    â€œChild, you might as well call me Aunt Molly. I’m sure to be at least a shirt-tail cousin, if we go back far enough. And you’re next thing to a sister to Hilda. Who is my niece, so that makes me your aunt, as well. Now, then.” She glanced at Hilda, who had already reached for the bell to summon Eileen about Norah’s clothes.
    Molly smiled to herself. Yes, Hilda was learning.
    When Eileen came with the dry clothes, Molly asked her to telephone her home saying she, Molly, would be out to dinner. Then leaving Eileen to help Norah dress, Hilda and Molly walked slowly down the stairs together. “This,” Hilda articulated carefully, “is a terrible thing, Aunt Molly.”
    â€œIt is.” Molly sighed. “I’m a little bit worried about Norah. Her color isn’t good. When she came I thought it was just the cold, but she’s warm now, and still pale. Perhaps it’s uneasiness about the baby, or about Sean. I confess, my dear, that things look very black for Sean.”
    â€œI believe Norah,” said Hilda, “and I believe Sean. Or—oh, Aunt Molly, I want to believe Sean. I believe that he did not kill anyone. But—they are very poor, and with the baby coming—if there was money in that billfold, Sean might have been tempted to take it. And if he did, and the police ind it out…” She gulped. She was not going to break down in tears like Norah. That would help no one. But she was very afraid.
    â€œThere is no merit in speculation, Hilda. We must have facts. And I confess I do not see where we are to find them. We do not know for certain that the man was indeed killed rather than dying accidentally in the fire.”
    â€œThe police must believe that is true, or they would not have arrested Sean.”
    â€œWe do not even know that, my dear. They might have arrested him for theft. Norah knows only a little, and she is very upset. She may not have told us everything she knows, either because she is afraid or because she did not remember.”
    â€œIt is true. She is hiding something, I think. But maybe we have asked her enough questions for now? She needs to rest.”
    â€œFor now, yes. We must do all we can to keep her quiet and happy, though how she can be happy… However, we will talk to her again later. It may help her to talk about it calmly. And we must try to get what facts we can from other sources.”
    â€œI have time!” said Hilda. “I have all the time I need! I can go and talk to—”
    And there she stopped. Talk to whom?
    Hilda had become embroiled, often against her will, in the investigation of several crimes while she worked as housemaid to the Studebakers. She hadn’t found it easy. The strict rules governing a servant’s life and conduct had drastically limited her freedom. She had, however, had easy access to the vast network of servants and tradesmen who always knew more about the activities of their upper-class employers and customers than those worthies ever suspected.
    With her marriage, Hilda’s life had changed. Owing to the kindness of Patrick’s uncle Dan Malloy, Patrick was making a great deal of money as partner in a successful business. No longer a fireman, struggling to make ends meet, he could afford to buy Hilda anything her heart desired. He and Hilda were now a part of that upper class they used to