"Oh, Richard, I am so glad that you have come," she exclaimed, clinging fondly to his arm.
"Hush," he said, "wait till we get farther from the house. The old man will hear us."
"No, no. He is down in the village. I sent him away."
This was what Storms wished to learn, but in his subtle craft he would not ask the question directly.
"He knows nothing—you have not told him that I might be here?" he questioned.
"Not a word."
"That is wise. He might be talking to the neighbors and set them clamoring at you again. I shouldn't like that, just as everything is coming right with us."
"There's no danger of that; he speaks to no one—poor old man. The neighbors know nothing about my leaving home; he felt it too much for talking."
"Of course, and you got back safely?"
"Oh, yes. How good of you to ask! But you have something to tell me."