He could see the firelight flickering upon the kitchen wall of the Barnard house as he drew near.

He came up into the yard and caught a glimpse of a fair head in the ruddy glow.
There was a knocker on the door; he raised it gingerly and let it fall.

It made but a slight clatter, but a woman's shadow moved immediately across the yard outside, and Barnabas heard the inner door open.

He threw open the outer one himself, and Charlotte stood there smiling, and softly decorous.

Neither of them spoke.