"He may come at any moment now. What time is it?"
"Ten minutes of eight. He never comes before half-past." She waited
a moment, and then went on deliberately: "I always had an idea it
was because he wanted to be sure Sergeant was in the house and not
out in the yard."
Alix closed her eyes for a second or two, as if by doing so it were
possible to shut out the same thought that had floated through Mrs.
Strong's mind.
"But he need not be afraid of Sergeant now," she said, with a little
tremor in her voice. "He will come earlier tonight." The unintentional
sarcasm did not escape Mrs. Strong. "Wait till tomorrow, Aunt Nancy.
Then I may tell you."
"You are trembling, dear. I wish you would let me make your excuses
to him when he comes. Don't see him tonight. Let me tell him--"
Alix turned squarely and faced her. There was a harassed, haunted
expression in her eyes,--and yet there was defiance.
"I stayed away five days," she said huskily. "For five days I kept
away from him. Then I--I gave up. I couldn't stand it any longer.
I had to come home. Now, you have the truth. I just simply HAD to
see him, Aunt Nancy,--I just HAD to."
"Then,--then it IS a spell," cried the other, dismay in her voice.
"You are not yourself, Alix. This is not you who say these things."
"Oh, yes, it is!" cried the girl recklessly. "I wanted to come
home.
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