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her seat to a little sofa。 It is the woman who always comes out of
these crucial moments unruffled。
〃I suppose you will be glad to see your friend Mr。 Demorest when
you go back；〃 she said pleasantly； 〃for of course he will be at
Hymettus awaiting you。〃
He turned eagerly； as he always did at the name。 But even then he
felt that Demorest was no longer of such importance to him。 He
felt； too； that he was not yet quite sure of his voice or even what
to say。 As he hesitated she went on half playfully： 〃It seems hard
that you had to come all the way here on such a bootless errand。
You haven't even seen your wife yet。〃
The mention of his wife recalled him to himself； oddly enough； when
Demorest's name had failed。 But very differently。 Out of his
whirling consciousness came the instinctive feeling that he could
not see her now。 He turned； crossed the room； sat down on the sofa
beside Mrs。 Horncastle； and without； however； looking at her； said；
with his eyes on the floor； 〃No； and I've been thinking that it's
hardly worth while to disturb her so early to…morrow as I should
have to go。 So I think it's a good deal better to let her have a
good night's rest； remain here quietly with you to…morrow until the
stage leaves； and that both of you come over together。 My horse is
still saddled； and I will be back at Hymettus before Demorest has
gone to bed。〃
He was obliged to look up at her as he rose。 Mrs。 Horncastle was
sitting erect； beautiful and dazzling as even he had never seen her
before。 For his resolution had suddenly lifted a great weight from
her shoulders；the dangerous meeting of husband and wife the next
morning； and its results； whatever they might be； had been quietly
averted。 She felt； too； a half…frightened joy even in the
constrained manner in which he had imparted his determination。
That frankness which even she had sometimes found so crushing was
gone。
〃I really think you are quite right；〃 she said； rising also； 〃and；
besides； you see； it will give me a chance to talk to her as you
wished。〃
〃To talk to her as I wished？〃 echoed Barker abstractedly。
〃Yes； about Van Loo； you know；〃 said Mrs。 Horncastle； smiling。
〃Oh； certainlyabout Van Loo； of course；〃 he returned hurriedly。
〃And then；〃 said Mrs。 Horncastle brightly； 〃I'll tell her。 Stay！〃
she interrupted herself hurriedly。 〃Why need I say anything about
your having been here AT ALL？ It might only annoy her； as you
yourself suggest。〃 She stopped breathlessly with parted lips。
〃Why； indeed？〃 said Barker vaguely。 Yet all this was so unlike his
usual truthfulness that he slightly hesitated。
〃Besides；〃 continued Mrs。 Horncastle； noticing it； 〃you know you
can always tell her later； if necessary。〃 And she added with a
charming mischievousness； 〃As she didn't tell you she was coming； I
really don't see why you are bound to tell her that you were here。〃
The sophistry pleased Barker； even though it put him into a certain
retaliating attitude towards his wife which he was not aware of
feeling。 But； as Mrs。 Horncastle put it； it was only a playful
attitude。
〃Certainly；〃 he said。 〃Don't say anything about it。〃
He moved to the door with his soft； broad…brimmed hat swinging
between his fingers。 She noticed for the first time that he looked
taller in his long black serape and riding…boots； and； oddly
enough； much more like the hero of an amorous tryst than Van Loo。
〃I know；〃 she said brightly； 〃you are eager to get back to your old
friend； and it would be selfish for me to try to keep you longer。
You have had a stupid evening； but you have made it pleasant to me
by telling me what you thought of me。 And before you go I want you
to believe that I shall try to keep that good opinion。〃 She spoke
frankly in contrast to the slight worldly constraint of Barker's
manner； it seemed as if they had changed characters。 And then she
extended her hand。
With a low bow； and without looking up； he took it。 Again their
pulses seemed to leap together with one accord and the same
mysterious understanding。 He could not tell if he had unconsciously
pressed her hand or if she had returned the pressure。 But when their
hands unclasped it seemed as if it were the division of one flesh
and spirit。
She remained standing by the open door until his footsteps passed
down the staircase。 Then she suddenly closed and locked the door
with an instinct that Mrs。 Barker might at once return now that he
was gone； and she wished to be a moment alone to recover herself。
But she presently opened it again and listened。 There was a noise
in the courtyard； but it sounded like the rattle of wheels more
than the clatter of a horseman。 Then she was overcomea sudden
sense of pity for the unfortunate woman still hiding from her
husbandand felt a momentary chivalrous exaltation of spirit。
Certainly she had done 〃good〃 to that wretched 〃Kitty；〃 perhaps she
had earned the epithet that Barker had applied to her。 Perhaps
that was the meaning of all this happiness to her； and the result
was to be only the happiness and reconciliation of the wife and
husband。 This was to be her reward。 I grieve to say that the
tears had come into her beautiful eyes at this satisfactory
conclusion； but she dashed them away and ran out into the hall。 It
was quite dark； but there was a faint glimmer on the opposite wall
as if the door of Mrs。 Barker's bedroom were ajar to an eager
listener。 She flew towards the glimmer； and pushed the door open：
the room was empty。 Empty of Mrs。 Barker； empty of her dressing…
box； her reticule and shawl。 She was gone。
Still； Mrs。 Horncastle lingered； the woman might have got frightened
and retreated to some further room at the opening of the door and
the coming out of her husband。 She walked along the passage；
calling her name softly。 She even penetrated the dreary； half…lit
public parlor； expecting to find her crouching there。 Then a sudden
wild idea took possession of her： the miserable wife had repented of
her act and of her concealment； and had crept downstairs to await
her husband in the office。 She had told him some new lie； had
begged him to take her with him； and Barker； of course； had
assented。 Yes； she now knew why she had heard the rattling wheels
instead of the clattering hoofs she had listened for。 They had gone
together； as he first proposed； in the buggy。
She ran swiftly down the stairs and entered the office。 The
overworked clerk was busy and querulously curt。 These women were
always asking such idiotic questions。 Yes； Mr。 Barker had just
gone。
〃With Mrs。 Barker in the buggy？〃 asked Mrs。 Horncastle。
〃No； as he cameon horseback。 Mrs。 Barker left HALF AN HOUR AGO。〃
〃Alone？〃
This was apparently too much for the long…suffering clerk。 He
lifted his eyes to the ceiling； and then； with painful precision；
and accenting every word with his pencil on the desk befor