He had telephoned for his automobile and heard the car draw up at the gate.

In the presence of Mrs.Collins and her husband, Ward had maintained an unruffled demeanor; now that he was alone his face assumed a tense, rigid look, as though he were staring at an apparition.
Something weighed heavily on his mind and it was plain that he was beset by uncertainty.

He continued to walk up and down the room with short, nervous strides, until the swish of skirts at the head of the stairs brought him to an abrupt halt at the doorway.

The arm which he extended to his sister, as he escorted her to the waiting automobile trembled violently.

A cold sweat moistened his face.
"Sis," he said, when the machine had started, "I'm going to tell you something.