Beastly rotten of me to have
neglected it. She's probably been sitting over there waiting ever
since--Gad, she may; have some good news. Maybe she is mistaken."
He went over to the telephone exchange and called up the Vick house.
Rosabel answered.
"That you, Rosie?...Well, I couldn't. I've been laid up, completely
out of commission ever since I saw you....What?...I--I didn't
get that, Rosie. Speak louder,--closer to the telephone."
Very distinctly now came the words, almost in a wail:
"Oh, Courtney, why--why do you lie to me?"
"Lie to you? My dear girl, do you know what you are--"
A low moan, and a harsh, choking sob smote his ear, and then the
click of the receiver on the hook.
"Well, I'll be hanged!" he muttered angrily. "That's the last time
I'll call you up, take it from me."
And it was the last time he ever called her up.
Then he, too, ravaged by uneasy thoughts, struck off into the
country lanes, the better to commune with himself. In due course,
he came to the gate leading up to the top of Quill's Window. Here
he lagged. His gaze went across the strip of pasture-land to the
deserted house above the main-travelled road. He started. His gaze
grew more intense. A lone figure traversed the highway. It turned
in at the gate, and, as he watched, strode swiftly up the path to
the front door....He saw her bend over, evidently to insert a
key in the lock.
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