He had just reached his own yard when there was the pale flutter of a skirt out of the darkness before him, and a little shadowy figure met him with a soft shock.

The was a smothered nervous titter from the figure.

Barney did not know who it was; he muttered an apology, and was about to pass into his yard when Rose Berry's voice arrested him.

It was quite trembling and uncertain; all the laughter had gone out of it.
"Oh, it's you," said she; "you frightened me.

I didn't know who it was." Barney felt suddenly annoyed without knowing why.