"My words are true, but who will ever believe them?"
"Pardon me," exclaimed a bland and fatherly voice over her shoulder, "I am a man who can believe in any thing. Put your confidence in me, Miss Dare, and we will see—we will see."
Startled by her surprise into new life, she gave one glance at the gentleman who had followed her to the door. It was the same who had offered her his arm, and whom she supposed to have remained behind her in Mr. Orcutt's room. She saw before her a large comfortable-looking personage of middle age, of no great pretensions to elegance or culture, but bearing that within his face which oddly enough baffled her understanding while it encouraged her trust. This was the more peculiar in that he was not looking at her, but stood with his eyes fixed on the fading light of the hall-lamp, which he surveyed with an expression of concern that almost amounted to pity.
"Sir, who are you?" she tremblingly asked.
Dropping his eyes from the lamp, he riveted them upon the veil she held tightly clasped in her right hand.
"If you will allow me the liberty of whispering in your ear, I will soon tell you," said he.
She bent her weary head downward; he at once leaned toward her and murmured a half-dozen words that made her instantly start erect with new light in her eyes.
"And you will help me?" she cried.
"What else am I here for?" he answered.
And turning toward a quiet figure which she now saw for the first time standing on the threshold of a small room near by, he said with the calmness of a master: