to the cottage, to see if Toff had returned, in his
absence, before he paid his daily visit to Surgeon Pinfold. He called
down the kitchen stairs, "Are you there, Toff?" And Toff answered
briskly, "At your service, sir."

The sky had become cloudy, and threatened rain. Not finding his umbrella
in the hall, Amelius went into the library to look for it. As he closed
the door behind him, Toff and his boy appeared on the kitchen stairs;
both walking on tiptoe, and both evidently on the watch for something.

Amelius found his umbrella. But it was characteristic of the melancholy
change in him that he dropped languidly into the nearest chair, instead
of going out at once with the easy activity of happier days. Sally was
in his mind again; he was rousing his resolution to set the doctor's
commands at defiance, and to insist on seeing her, come what might of
it.

He suddenly looked up. A slight sound had startled him.

It was a faint rustling sound; and it came from the sadly silent room
which had once been Sally's.

He listened, and heard it again. He sprang to his feet--his heart beat
wildly--he opened the door of the room.

She was there.

Her hands were clasped over her fast-heaving breast. She was powerless
to look at him, powerless to speak to him--powerless to move towards
him, until he opened his arms to her. Then, all the love and all
the sorrow in the tender little heart flowed outward to him in a low
murmuring cry. She hid her blushing face on his bosom. The rosy colour
softly tinged her neck--the unspoken confession of all she feared, and
all she hoped.

It was a time beyond words. They were silent in each other's arms.

But under them, on the floor below, the stillness in the cottage
was merrily broken by an outburst of dance-music--with a rhythmical
thump-thump of feet, keeping time to the cheerful tune. Toff was playing
his fiddle; and Toff's boy was dancing to his father's music.

CHAPTER 12

After waiting a day or two for news from Amelius, and hearing nothing,
Rufus went to make inquiries at the cottage.

"My master has gone out of town, sir," said Toff, opening the door.

"Where?"

"I don't know, sir."

"Anybody with him?"

"I don't know, sir."

"Any news of Sally?"

"I don't know, sir."

Rufus stepped into the hall. "Look here, Mr. Frenchman, three times is
enough. I have already apologized for treating you like a teetotum, on a
former occasion. I'm afraid I shall do it again,