CHAPTER VII
It was nine o'clock in the evening of the same day on which Traill had been to see Sally. The lights were burning in her room as Janet approached the street door. Opening it, she walked along the passage and began the ascent of stairs. Halfway up the first flight she stopped. The voices of two men, talking rather excitedly, came up to her from the street as if they were nearing the house. Another moment and she heard one bidding the other good night in the passage. Evidently he was coming in. She walked on up the flight of stairs. His footsteps sounded behind her. She took but little more notice of the fact until, when she stopped before Sally's door, he stopped behind her. Then she turned round. Her eyes opened a little wider. She began to say one thing; then she changed her mind and said another.
"Aren't you Mr. Traill?" she asked.
He looked at her more closely in the dim light from the landing window.
"Yes; how did you know?"
"I'm Miss Hallard."
"Oh, oh yes! You're Sally's friend."
"'Bout the only one she has." said Janet. There was no flinching in her eyes from his.
"You mean that for me?"
"Yes."