nt she paused, her
right hand on the lock of the front door, her left hand pressed to her
side, leaning against the wall of the passage. Then she turned the key
and the handle and drew the door in towards her. A violent gust of wind,
full of cold and drenching rain, whirled into the passage and almost
blinded her. The lamp flickered in the lantern overhead. But she looked
boldly out, facing the wind and weather.

"Come in!" she called in a low voice.

Immediately there was a sound as of footsteps coming from the direction
of the drawing-room window, across the wet slate flags which surrounded
the cottage, and a moment afterwards, peering through the darkness, Mrs.
Goddard saw a man with a ghastly face standing before her in the rain.

CHAPTER XIII.

Mrs. Goddard's heart stood still as she looked at the wretched man, and
tried to discover her husband's face, even a resemblance to him, in the
haggard features she saw close before her. But he gave her small time for
reflection; so soon as he had recognised her he sprang past her into the
passage and pulling her after him closed the door.

"Mary--don't you know me?" he said, in low tones. "You must save me--they
are after me--" He stood close beside her in the narrow way, beneath
the small lamp; he tried to put his arm around her and he bent down and
brought his ghastly face close to hers. But she drew back as from a
contamination. She was horrified, and it was a natural movement. She knew
his voice even better than his features, now that he spoke. He pressed
nearer to her and she thrust him back with her hands. Then suddenly a
thought struck her; she took him by the sleeve and led him into the
dining-room. There was no light there; she pushed him in.

"Stay there one minute--"

"No--no, you won't call--"

"I will save you--there is--there is somebody in the drawing-room."
Before he could answer her she was gone, leaving him alone in the dark.
He listened intently, not venturing to leave the spot where she had
placed him; he thought he heard voices and footsteps, but no one came out
into the passage. It seemed an eternity to wait. At last she came,
bearing a lighted candle in her hand. She carefully shut the door of the
dining-room behind her and put the light upon the table. She moved like a
person in a dream.

"Sit down," she said, pointing to a chair. "Are you hungry?" His sunken
eyes sparkled. She brought food and ale and set them before him. He ate
a