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gayety。 〃There were two others in the hollow with me that night。〃
〃I know that； too。 But I know even what you said。 You reproved
them for throwing a lighted match in the dry grass。 You were thinking of
us then。 I know it。〃
〃Of US？〃 said Key quickly。
〃Of Mrs。 Barker and myself。 We were alone in the house； for my
brother and her husband were both away。 What you said seemed to
forewarn me； and I told her。 So we were prepared when the fire came
nearer； and we both escaped on the same horse。〃
〃And you dropped your shoes in your flight；〃 said Key laughingly；
〃and I picked them up the next day； when I came to search for you。 I have
kept them still。〃
〃They were HER shoes；〃 said the girl quickly； 〃I couldn't find mine in
our hurry； and hers were too large for me； and dropped off。〃 She stopped；
and with a faint return of her old gladness said； 〃Then you DID come back？
I KNEW you would。〃
〃I should have stayed THEN； but we got no reply when we shouted。
Why was that？〃 he demanded suddenly。
〃Oh； we were warned against speaking to any stranger； or even being
seen by any one while we were alone；〃 returned the girl simply。
〃But why？〃 persisted Key。
〃Oh； because there were so many highwaymen and horse…stealers in
the woods。 Why； they had stopped the coach only a few weeks before；
and only a day or two ago； when Mrs。 Barker came down。 SHE saw
them！〃
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Key with difficulty suppressed a groan。 They walked on in silence
for some moments； he scarcely daring to lift his eyes to the decorous little
figure hastening by his side。 Alternately touched by mistrust and pain； at
last an infinite pity； not unmingled with a desperate resolution； took
possession of him。
〃I must make a confession to you； Miss Rivers；〃 he began with the
bashful haste of a very boy； 〃that is〃he stammered with a half hysteric
laugh；〃that isa confession as if you were really a sister or a priest； you
knowa sort of confidence to youto your dress。 I HAVE seen you； or
THOUGHT I saw you before。 It was that which brought me here； that
which made me follow Mrs。 Barkermy only clue to youto the door of
that convent。 That night； in the hollow； I saw a profile at the lighted
window； which I thought was yours。〃
〃I never was near the window；〃 said the young girl quickly。 〃It must
have been Mrs。 Barker。〃
〃I know that now；〃 returned Key。 〃But remember； it was my only
clue to you。 I mean；〃 he added awkwardly； 〃it was the means of my
finding you。〃
〃I don't see how it made you think of me； whom you never saw； to see
another woman's profile；〃 she retorted； with the faintest touch of asperity
in her childlike voice。 〃But；〃 she added； more gently and with a relapse
into her adorable naivete； 〃most people's profiles look alike。〃
〃It was not that；〃 protested Key； still awkwardly； 〃it was only that I
realized somethingonly a dream； perhaps。〃
She did not reply； and they continued on in silence。 The gray wall of
the convent was already in sight。 Key felt he had achieved nothing。
Except for information that was hopeless； he had come to no nearer
understanding of the beautiful girl beside him； and his future appeared as
vague as before； and； above all； he was conscious of an inferiority of
character and purpose to this simple creature； who had obeyed him so
submissively。 Had he acted wisely？ Would it not have been better if he
had followed her own frankness； and
〃Then it was Mrs。 Barker's profile that brought you here？〃 resumed the
voice beneath the coif。 〃You know she has gone back。 I suppose you
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will follow？〃
〃You will not understand me；〃 said Key desperately。 〃But；〃 he added
in a lower voice； 〃I shall remain here until you do。〃
He drew a little closer to her side。
〃Then you must not begin by walking so close to me；〃 she said；
moving slightly away； 〃they may see you from the gate。 And you must
not go with me beyond that corner。 If I have been missed already they
will suspect you。〃
〃But how shall I know？〃 he said； attempting to take her hand。 〃Let
me walk past the gate。 I cannot leave you in this uncertainty。〃
〃You will know soon enough；〃 she said gravely； evading his hand。
〃You must not go further now。 Good…night。〃
She had stopped at the corner of the wall。 He again held out his hand。
Her little fingers slid coldly between his。
〃Good…night； Miss Rivers。〃
〃Stop！〃 she said suddenly； withdrawing her veil and lifting her clear
eyes to his in the moonlight。 〃You must not say THATit isn't the truth。
I can't bear to hear it from YOUR lips； in YOUR voice。 My name is
NOT Rivers！〃
〃Not Riverswhy？〃 said Key； astounded。
〃Oh； I don't know why；〃 she said half despairingly； 〃only my brother
didn't want me to use my name and his here； and I promised。 My name is
'Riggs'there！ It's a secretyou mustn't tell it； but I could not bear to
hear YOU say a lie。〃
〃Good…night； Miss Riggs；〃 said Key sadly。
〃No； nor that either；〃 she said softly。 〃Say Alice。〃
〃Good…night； Alice。〃
She moved on before him。 She reached the gate。 For a moment her
figure； in its austere； formless garments； seemed to him to even stoop and
bend forward in the humility of age and self… renunciation； and she
vanished within as into a living tomb。
Forgetting all precaution； he pressed eagerly forward； and stopped
before the gate。 There was no sound from within； there had evidently
been no challenge nor interruption。 She was safe。
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CHAPTERVII。
The reappearance of Chivers in the mill with Collinson； and the brief
announcement that