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So they crossed over and joined the group The padre smiled It was a

situation such as he loved to study: a stronghappened; not a ripple anywhere to disclose the agitation

beneath The hed, but they spoke not to each

other, nor looked once into each other's eyes

The sun was dropping toward the western tops The guests were leaving by

twos and threes The colonel had prevailed upon his dinner-guests not to

bother about going back to the village to dress, but to dine in the

clothes they wore Finally, none rean, Abbott, the

Barone, the padre and Courtlandt And they talked noisily and agreeably

concerning ravely announced that dinner was

served

It was only then, during the lull which followed, that light was shed upon

the puzzle which had been subconsciously stirring Harrigan's mind: Nora

had not once spoken to the son of his old friend