Again he paused and looked up enquiringly at the house.

The old boatman had told him that Chapman lived there, when all the embers of that love he had so long cherished for Mattie seemed to kindle again into a living fire.

And yet what changes might have taken place since he left?
If, however, she still loved him, and was true to him, how could he pass the house, even at that late hour, without at least letting her know he was in Nyack?
It was indeed late, and there was still a mile before he reached the home of his parents.

He could have more time in the morning to meet Mattie, to unfold his heart to her, and to give her an account of the many strange things that had happened to him since he left.
There was a bright light in two of the upper windows, but below the house was nearly dark, and Bright was in his bar-room, settling up the business of the day.

Suddenly the light in the windows became brighter, then the shadow of a female figure was seen crossing and recrossing the room every few seconds.