As the front door shut, Nellie left him unceremoniously, and went out to the front piazza, where Vickers was standing after having said good-by to his visitor. His head was bent and his hands were in his pockets.
Nellie came and stood silently beside him. She was conscious of being nervous. She could feel her heart beating. She felt that something important had happened. They stood like this for several seconds, and then fearing that Emmons would join them before she had heard, Nellie said:
“Bob?”
The monosyllable was plainly a question, but he did not answer it. He merely took her hand and drew it within his arm and continued to stare meditatively at the boards at his feet.
Driven to desperation by the thought of the shortness of her time, Nellie at length asked:
“Was it very serious?”
He looked at her.
“Pretty serious, Nellie.”
She felt frightened.
“I don’t want to be too curious, but you must tell me. Are you in danger?”