o shroud it.

The doctor, scarcely slackening speed, swung his car through the gateway
and glided up the drive. At the turn the house rose before him, square,
frowning, black. It was only after a moment that a nebulous radiance
from a curtained window upstairs defined itself as light. Usually there
was much light and the companionable racket of a busy household.

Randall's hands trembled while he arranged the levers and shut off the
engine. Yet the radiance, at last, was somewhat reassuring.

He sprang out, and nearly running, stumbling a little, climbed the
steps, crossed the verandah, and pushed the electric button. From far
away the response echoed as through an empty house. No sound of hurrying
feet followed it. Randall, after waiting for a moment, took out his
latch-key and entered.

Because of his impatience he didn't stop to fumble for the switch.
Instead he flung his hat haphazard through the darkness, felt his way
across the hall, and climbed the stairs.

"Bella!" he called.

Immediately the relieving answer came:

"Here--in my dressing-room, John. Why are you so late?"

He leant weakly against the wall.

"I was detained. What's the matter?"

"Why don't you come in?" she asked.

He straightened and opened the door. The light, shining upon his face,
showed it still scarred by anger and indecision. The relief of finding
his wife at home and safe was not, then, wholly curative.

He closed the door behind him and stared at her, lying in a
reading-chair, a book open on her knees, her dark and lovely face
upraised to him, expectant, questioning, a trifle startled.

"Where are all the servants?" he demanded.

She stirred. The youthful fluency of her body in the mauve dressing gown
must have impressed itself upon the excited man by the door.

"I had to let myself in. I--Not a light. It frightened me."

"You've forgotten," she answered. "We talked it over a week or so ago,
and I thought you had agreed. Ellen's wedding. Naturally they all wanted
to go. I had an early dinner and packed them off. But I counted on you.
I was growing afraid, all alone in the house. What kept you?"

"Old Mrs. Hanson--at first. She's very ill. I should really have stayed
the night. I went to the club for a bite--"

He broke off. He walked closer, looking down into her eyes which did not
quite meet his.

"At the club--I knew I must come home to-night. I--I sent your cousin,
Tom Redding, to Mrs. Hanson."

Her eyes wavere