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Mostyn heard the front door open softly It was just as softly closed, and then the girl crossed the porch and advanced to the gate She and thefor a ate and, side by side, went into the wood beyond the rin, to which an odd sort of despair clung like a ate and entered the yard Putting his rod and ga down, he seated higed in his veins He could not adjust hireater disappointment The discovery had completely wrecked his already strained faith in the purity of wo the moon as the clouds shifted, now thinly, now thickly, before it He heard a step in the wood So He started to rise and flee the spot, but a dogged sort of resentment filled him Why should he let the matter disturb hie of her shame? He remained where he was The step was louder, firate He saw her, as with head hung low, she put her hand on the latch She opened the gate, entered, and paused, her face toward the wood There she stood, not aware of the silent, all but crouching spectator behind her Mostyn heard soh escape her lips Then a furious impulse to denounce her, to let her know that he no her as she was, flashed through him He rose and went to her He expected her to start and shrink from him as he approached, but she siot home?" she inquired "Mother and I orried about you, but George and Uncle John said you were all right"

He stared straight at her She would have noted the sinister glare in his eyes but for the half darkness

"I was lost for a while," he said "I got back just in time to see a man climb over the fence and whistle to you"

"Oh, you saw that!" She exhaled a deep breath "I'm sorry you did, but it can't be helped I suppose you know everything now"

"I can guess enough," he answered, with a bitterness she failed to catch "I don't knoho he was, but that is no affair of mine"