n. She knew
why she, when she had gazed at the picture a few minutes before, had
been disturbed and frightened at feeling it to be a kind of picture
unfamiliar to her and threatening her with something unknown and
terrible. She knew the reason now for a score of things Hugh had said
to her, for the way he had looked many times when she had spoken to
him. It explained all that! It seemed to her, in the moment, to
explain everything--except one thing. It did not explain Hugh himself;
the kind of man he was, the kind of man she knew him to be--the man she
loved--he could not be a murderer!

Her hands dropped from her face; she threw her head back proudly and
triumphantly, as she faced now both Avery and her father.

"He, the murderer of Mr. Latron!" she cried quietly. "It isn't so!"

The blind man was very pale; he was fully dressed. A servant had
supported him and helped him down the stairs and still stood beside him
sustaining him. But the will which had conquered his disability of
blindness was holding him firmly now against the disability of his
hurts; he seemed composed and steady. She saw compassion for her in
his look; and compassion--under the present circumstances--terrified
her. Stronger, far more in control of him than his compassion for her,
she saw purpose. She recognized that her father had come to a decision
upon which he now was going to act; she knew that nothing she or any
one else could say would alter that decision and that he would employ
his every power in acting upon it.

The blind man seemed to check himself an instant in the carrying out of
his purpose; he turned his sightless eyes toward her. There was
emotion in his look; but, except that this emotion was in part pity for
her, she could not tell exactly what his look expressed.

"Will you wait for me outside, Harriet?" he said to her. "I shall not
be long."

She hesitated; then she felt suddenly the futility of opposing him and
she passed him and went out into the hall. The servant followed her,
closing the door behind him. She stood just outside the door
listening. She heard her father--she could catch the tone; she could
not make out the words--asking a question; she heard the sound of
Avery's response. She started back nearer the door and put her hand on
it to open it; inside they were still talking. She caught Avery's tone
more clearly now, and it suddenly terrified her. She drew back from
the door and shrank away.