He left her, but it looked as though she were indulged, not he defeated.

At the lowest step he paused, turned, bowed low again.

This time she answered with a deep and sweeping curtsey.

Then he was gone, and she was leaning by the wall again, her face buried in her hands.

I heard her sob, and her broken words reached me: "What shall I do?
Oh, what shall I do ?" At once I stepped out from the hiding-place that had shown me such strange things, and, crossing to her, hat in hand, answered her sad desolate question.
"Why, trust in your friends, Mistress Barbara," said I cheerily.