CHAPTER SEVENAlina awoke with a start.
Somebody was shaking her shoulder.
She then opened her eyes and saw that it was Denise.
“What is ‒ it?” she asked in a haze.
She felt as if she had been asleep for just for a few minutes, although actually it had been more than eight hours.
“I am sorry to wake you, dearest,” Denise said to her, “but we have to leave for England almost immediately.”
Alina gave a little gasp and sat up in bed.
“What has – happened?” she asked.
“When Henry came back last night from his grandmother’s house, he found a cable from England to say that his sister, who is older than he is and a widow, is desperately ill.”
“I am – so sorry,” Alina murmured.
“He came here at eight o’clock to tell me,” Denise went on, “and I then went downstairs to talk to him. He is no
