Father'll be home early this evening, too." "I think," Blanche said, "that Mr.Ducaine has made up his mind." She walked with me to the hall door, but she declined to shake hands with me.

Her appearance was little short of tragic.

I think that at another time I might have been amused, for never in my life had I spoken more than a few courteous words to the girl.

But my nerves were all on edge, and I took her seriously.

I walked down the street, leaving her standing in the threshold with the door open as though anxious to give me a chance to return if I would.