Now and then she heard an approaching footstep, and a black shadow slanted athwart the road.

Her heart sank, though she wondered at it, when that happened.
When Jerome came up the road she made sure at once that it was he.
She even stirred to greet him, but after an indefinable pause he passed on also; then she thought she had been mistaken.
He saw the flutter of pale drapery on the door-step, but never dreamed that Lucina was actually there watching for him.

After a while he went back.

Lucina, who was still sitting there, saw him again, but this time did not stir, since he was going the other way.
When, at half-past eight, she saw the people from the evening prayer-meeting passing on the road, she made sure that Jerome would not come that night.
She gave a soft sigh, leaned her head back against the fluted door-post, and tried to recall every word he had said to her, and every word she had said to him, about his coming.

She began to wonder if she had possibly not been cordial enough, if she could have made him fear he would not be welcome.