ell
echoed through the house. It was several times repeated before Nancy
appeared to answer the summons, and Dexie's heart seemed to leap up in her
throat as she recognized Hugh's voice. But Nancy remembered the injunctions
given her, and refused admittance, saying decidedly that the family were
out; and when Hugh reminded her that Miss Dexie was at home, Nancy boldly
said that Miss Dexie was not going to be disturbed by anybody. Dexie gave a
sigh of relief as she heard the door shut and Hugh's step on the pavement
below. She turned to her book and was soon lost to all outside influences
in her sympathy for the heroine of the story, when a slight movement of the
curtain caused her to look up. The book dropped from her fingers and she
staggered to her feet, her face white, even to her lips. Terror seemed to
rob her of all power to move or speak, as she gazed into the face before
her that was almost as colorless as her own.

With a quick movement Hugh dropped the curtain behind him and came forward
with outstretched hands.

"You cannot keep me away, Dexie. You refused to let me in at the door, but
you forgot the secret passage in the attic. My darling! I did not intend to
frighten you!" noticing for the first time how terrified she looked. "I
only came to ask your forgiveness."

He reached out his hands to catch her, but he was too late, for, as he
spoke, she fell in a heap on the floor in a dead faint. With trembling
hands Hugh lifted the unconscious form to the little sofa, and kneeling
beside her bent over her, chaffing her hands and calling her by all the
tender names which he had only dared to give her in his heart; and the
pent-up emotions of weeks found relief in a shower of kisses, which rained
on the upturned face and ruffled hair that framed it like a glory. It was
very wrong of him, to be sure; but the man who is famishing, and who steals
the loaf that will put life into his starving body, should not be severely
dealt with, and Hugh's hungry heart was sadly in need of some satisfying
food.

Dexie's faint lasted so long that Hugh began to feel alarmed, yet he could
not think of calling to Nancy for help. Not for anything would he have her
know that he had dared to enter the house in this clandestine manner, and
he knew Dexie would feel vexed enough if anyone should find him there with
her; so he hastily opened the nearest chamber door, and securing the
water-pitcher on the stand, he bathed the white face unti