No doubt it had been arranged that one of these cars was
to take her down to the ferry. He had seen her saddle horse late
that afternoon standing in front of the blacksmith's shop, evidently
waiting to be re-shod.
If he had his way,--and he was determined to have it,--Alix would
walk with him to the ferry.
As he turned in at the gate he observed that the woman and her
two companions, after pausing for a moment to look at the house,
continued their way up the road. The men who had preceded him all
the way were already on the front porch. He followed the disappearing
trio with his eyes. The woman, he noticed for the first time, was
very tall,--quite as tall as the men. She wore a shawl over her
head, and some sort of a long cloak.
Setting his jaw he strode up the walk, looking neither to right nor
left, mounted the steps where many a night he had sat with Rosabel
beside him, and after passing a group of low-voiced neighbours,
knocked on the closed door. He was admitted by an elderly woman
who looked askance at this well-dressed stranger.
"I am Mr. Thane, a friend," he said. "Will you tell Mrs. Vick,
please?"
"She's upstairs, and I--I--"
"I think she is expecting me. But,--wait. I thought I might be able
to comfort her, but I can see by your expression that she isn't
feeling up to seeing people. I came over primarily to see if there
is anything I can do, Madam.
Pages:
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322