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But it was a very different person with whom the Madagascan had to contend in the end. On leaving Dora's apartment, Zita telephoned Brent Rock, and Locke answered immediately. Locke readily agreed to make the search of Balcom's apartment in Zita's stead. When the Madagascan heard a key in the door he stealthily peeped from his hiding-place and saw, instead of Zita, Locke.
Her glance passes over the insignificant figure of the lay-sister, and, looking across to the pine grove on the hill, she speaks to Reverend Mother. "Do you know, Mother, every time I stand here and look at those trees I am reminded of Nita, 'the nightingale of Saint Zita's, as we used to call her. That grove was ever her favorite resort and even the odor of pines makes me think of her.
It was a Sunday evening in early June and the hour for Vesper service at Saint Zita's convent. Reverend Mother mounted the staircase leading to the chapel, then paused, with her hand upon the door, to listen as the wonderful soprano again took up the refrain: "Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae."
The memory of her early training at Saint Zita's, the memory too of that other death-scene she had witnessed when her father had passed away so calmly, so peacefully, with his eyes upon the crucifix and the words of God's minister ringing in his ears, came to the girl and she had begged to be allowed to send for a priest.
They crept down a back stairway and so away from the house. At times Flint stumbled and almost fell, and once that insane laugh startled a passer-by, who started after them, then changed his mind and proceeded on his way. It was then that Zita's heart almost stopped beating. She realized that the situation would be unexplainable to a stranger and she urged the insane Flint on faster.
"One moment, please, Miss Brent," he interrupted. "Before the others arrive I am going to establish Zita's real position in this house." All at the table looked at one another in openly expressed astonishment. Zita, with eyes cast down, hands clasped in her lap, seemed almost demure, though about her mouth played a faint smile.
"I ordered it for you at my place, as you wrote that you were coming this evening." He turned round quickly. "I am v-v-very sorry; you sh-should not have waited for me! I will just get a bit tidy and come round at once. P-perhaps you would not mind putting these into water." When he came into Zita's dining room she was standing before a mirror, fastening one of the sprays into her dress.
But protestations and explanations only made matters worse, as usual. Had she not with her own eyes seen Locke in Zita's arms? "Eva," he persisted, manlike, "I swear that she was only trying to save my life. I cannot help it if she " Locke saw that his defense was only making an innocent matter worse, and checked himself.
Doctor Locke, against Zita's advice, insisted on going in, and told his daughter to wait outside. It was then that Zita disobeyed her father for the first time, for she flatly refused to be left behind. "No," she insisted. "I found a father to-night and what we must risk we risk together. It is no worse than the peril from which I once escaped."
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