uth, icily.

He was still looking intently into the far-reaching gloom. Neither had
spoken for many seconds. He started, and looked searchingly into her
eyes.

"That was Madame Obosky," he said.

"I know. I recognized her," said she evenly.

"And you believe she was coming out here to meet me,--isn't that so?"

She drew herself up. "I shall have to say good night, Mr. Percival. No!
It is not necessary for you to walk home with me."

He placed himself in front of her. "Would you mind answering my
question?"

"Yes," she flashed, "I think she was coming out here to meet you. Permit
me to pass, please."

He stood aside. "Good night, Miss Clinton."

He watched her until the door of her cabin swung open,--and he smiled
as she stood revealed for an instant in the square of light, for she had
obeyed the impulse to glance over her shoulder.

She was angry, hurt, disgusted as she slammed the door behind her.

"Where have you been?" cried out an accusing voice, and Ruth's gaze fell
upon the figure in one of the deck chairs beside the fire. "I have been
waiting for you for--"

"How long have you been here?" cried the girl, stock-still and staring.

"If Mrs. Spofford had not been so entertaining, I should say for hours
and hours," said Madame Obosky.

"As a matter of fact," said Mrs. Spofford from her side of the
fireplace, "it hasn't been more than an hour. Madame Obosky came soon
after you went out, dear."

"But--but I saw you just now coming out of your cabin," cried Ruth
blankly. She had a queer sensation as of the floor giving way beneath
her.

"You saw--Oh, now I understand!" cried the Russian, with a laugh. "Zose
girls of mine! Zey--they are like so many grandmothers. They will not go
to bed until zey know I am safely tucked in myself. Alas, Mrs. Spofford,
zose girls do not trust me, I fear. If I go out at night alone, zey
instantly put their heads together and shake zem all at the same time.
So that is what has happen, Miss Clinton. One of them,--Alma, I suspect,
because she had a sister who,--Yes, it would be Alma, I am sure,--in any
case, one of zem comes out to get me, so like a policeman. But still I
do not understand something. I have told them I was coming here to see
you. If it was one of my girls, why has she not come?"

Ruth had turned away, ostensibly to pull down the little window shade
but really to send a swift searching glance out across the Green.

"She went the other way," she replied,