Dancers impeded her way, and she was obliged to do some skillful dodging in and out of the movements to avoid actual collision. But Nancy scarcely saw them. Neither did she hear the jolly music, for it seemed to her tragic that such an accident should befall Rosa. It was only human for Nancy to feel impending gloom, so far as her vacation was concerned, but her dislike for Orilla, and the little mother instinct that so spontaneously went forth to save Rosa, had more to do with her thoughts than any possible loss of good times.
“I guess I’ve got something to do,” she was telling herself as she peered into face after face, hoping to pick out that of Dell or Gar Durand.
“Looking for us, too, I suppose,” she sighed. Then, realizing that they must know Rosa and her habits better than she did, came the discouraging fear that they too might be off in the woods--hunting for Rosa.
Moments seemed like hours, and every time Nancy espied someone who looked a little bit like Dell and presently found she was mistaken, her resources would wane.
“If it had been any other time,” she couldn’t help grumbling, “when I knew persons and places. But the very first night--”
“Oh, there she is!” cried Nancy aloud, disregarding those around her. “Dell!” she called. “Here I am!”
In a moment Dell, her own face showing relief at the locating of Nancy, sprang up to her side and just grabbed her.
“Oh Dell, do hurry!” whispered Nancy. “Where is your brother?”
“Rosa’s hurt.” The words were driven straight into Dell’s anxious ears.
“Hush,” warned Nancy. “Can you get your brother?”
“Yes. He started at the other end. Don’t leave this spot. See, it’s the big post--” and Dell was off to locate her brother.
Briefly, very briefly, Nancy attempted to give Dell and Garfield some account of Rosa’s troubles, as presently they were all hurrying toward the sequestered spot where Rosa waited. She did not mention Orilla--somehow she felt that Rosa would not have wanted her to. Better let her cousin explain that angle, Nancy wisely decided.
But before they had actually come up to Rosa, Nancy saw that she was alone: that Orilla had left her!
“Oh, you poor darling!” exclaimed Dell with genuine sympathy. “To think you were here all alone, and we were hunting--”