He's--been--clear--around--the--earth--"
But the Sandman had conquered, and Miss Lady, having slipped on a
dressing-gown and loosened her hair, tiptoed to the far end of the
porch and sitting on the railing gazed fixedly out into the gathering
darkness. For half an hour the dim enchantments of twilight had been
abroad, transforming hill and valley, and merging heaven and earth in
a tender, elusive atmosphere of dreams. But her absorbed, white face,
and tense hands locked about her knees, showed that she was not
concerned with the beauty of the evening.
Mrs. Ivy's words had kindled a bonfire, by the light of which recent
events leapt into view. Connie had been secretive, not only about her
letters but about her engagements as well. She was growing daily more
indifferent to Gerald Ivy, and developing a taste for reading that had
been the cause of much surmising and teasing on the part of the
household.
Twice during the summer Donald had come to Thornwood, and on both
occasions Miss Lady had been seized with an unreasoning fear, not only
of him, but of herself. She had received him under the depressing
chaperonage of Mr. Gooch and Mrs.
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