Toward three o'clock, Miss Garth and Norah entered the morning-room, to await Mr.Pendril's arrival.

They were joined shortly afterward by Magdalen.

In half an hour more the familiar fall of the iron latch in the socket reached their ears from the fence beyond the shrubbery.

Mr.Pendril and Mr.Clare advanced into view along the garden-path, walking arm-in-arm through the rain, sheltered by the same umbrella.

The lawyer bowed as they passed the windows; Mr.Clare walked straight on, deep in his own thoughts--noticing nothing.
After a delay which seemed interminable; after a weary scraping of wet feet on the hall mat; after a mysterious, muttered interchange of question and answer outside the door, the two came in--Mr.Clare leading the way.