He went down the porch and she watched him go out of the gate and down the road until she could see his figure no longer. Then she turned back and sank into her chair and burying her face in her handkerchief she gave way to a torrent of tears which afforded some relief to the weight on her heart. Presently the others returned from their walk and she told them about the visitor.
“Mr. Ryder's son, Jefferson, was here. We crossed on the same ship. I introduced him to Judge Stott on the dock.”
The judge looked surprised, but he merely said:
“I hope for his sake that he is a different man from his father.”
“He is,” replied Shirley simply, and nothing more was said.
Two days went by, during which Shirley went on completing the preparations for her visit to New York. It was arranged that Stott should escort her to the city. Shortly before they started for the train a letter arrived for Shirley. Like the first one it had been forwarded by her publishers. It read as follows:
Miss Shirley Green,
Dear Madam.—I shall be happy to see you at my residence—Fifth Avenue—any afternoon that you will mention.
Yours very truly,