The fortnight slowly passed. She returned, but he did not see her. She
was always out or engaged in her room with some female friend when
Herbert was at home. This was singular, as she had never appeared to
him as a young girl who was fond of visiting or had ever affected
female friendships. In fact, there was little doubt now that,
wittingly or unwittingly, she was avoiding him.
He was moodily sitting by the fire one evening, having returned early
from dinner. In reply to his habitual but affectedly careless inquiry,
Ellen had told him that Mrs. Brooks was confined to her room by a
slight headache, and that Miss Brooks was out. He was trying to read,
and listening to the wind that occasionally rattled the casement and
caused the solitary gas-lamp that was visible in the side street to
flicker and leap wildly. Suddenly he heard the same footfall upon his
outer step and a light tap at the door. Determined this time to solve
the mystery, he sprang to his feet and ran to the door; but to his
anger and astonishment it was locked and the key was gone. Yet he was
positive that HE had not taken it out.
The tap was timidly repeated. In desperation he called out, "Please
don't go away yet. The key is gone; but I'll find it in a moment."
Nevertheless he was at his wits' end.
There was a hesitating pause and then the sound of a key cautiously
thrust into the lock. It turned; the door opened, and a tall figure,
whose face and form were completely hidden in a veil and long gray
shawl, quickly glided into the room and closed the door behind it.
Then it suddenly raised its arms, the shawl was parted, the veil fell
aside, and Cherry stood before him!
Her face was quite pale. Her eyes, usually downcast, frightened, or
coldly clear, were bright and beautiful with excitement. The dimples
were faintly there, although the smile was sad and half hysterical.
She remained standing, erect and tall, her arms dropped at her side,
holding the veil and shawl that still depended from her shoulders.
"So--I've caught you!" she said, with a strange little laugh. "Oh yes.
'Please don't go away yet. I'll get the key in a moment,'" she
continued, mimicking his recent utterance.