He went forward and put his hand on her arm.

She started violently.

Her great brown eyes dilated in fear, then went questioning at the sight of him.

He shrank slightly from her.
"I didn't know--" she faltered.
"Nor I," he said.
He looked away.

His sudden, flaring hope sank again.
"What are you doing in town ?" he asked.
"I'm staying at Cousin Anne's." "Ha! For long ?" "No; only till to-morrow." "Must you go straight home ?" She looked at him, then hid her face under her hat-brim.
"No," she said--"no; it's not necessary." He turned away, and she went with him.