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She rose at last and went on tiptoe to theThe curtains had not yet been drawn, and she could see in the fading light the elaborate ironwork of the tall gate in the fence, and the co here and there in puddles that caught the green color fro western sky In front, on the lawn on this side, burned tiny patches of white where the crocuses sprouted

As she stood there, there caht It drew up at the gate, and the door opened

II

"He is coure appear froe There was no answer, and as she went on tiptoe to the fire, she saw that the old lady was asleep She went noiselessly out of the roo with horrible excite to the footsteps and voices in the hall Then she drew a long tree effort of the will, and went downstairs

"Mr Laurie's gone into the s at her oddly

He was standing by the table as she went in; so hted, and no

"Well, Laurie?" she said

"Well, Maggie," said his voice in answer And their hands met

Then in an instant she knew that so Yet at the moment she had not an idea as to what it was that told her that It was Laurie's voice surely!

"You're all in the dark," she said

There was nothe mantelpiece for the matches she had seen there just before; but her hand shook so much that some little metal ornament fell with a crash as she fu almost vocal breath of sudden nervous alarm And still there was noher it see her his face

Then she found the hted, with fingers that shook violently, the two candles on the little table by the fire Sheherself Then with another fierce effort of will she began to speak, lifting her eyes to his face as she did so