"I do not know her motive," he said, "but she has taken Miss Ramsey away. For three days we have had no news of her."
The knocker fell with a decisive sound. Nevins rose, went to the door, and opened it. Then he started back before the apparition of Mariana.
She was standing near the threshold, her hand raised as when the knocker had fallen, her head bent slightly forward.
With an impulsive gesture she held out her gloved hands, her eyes shining.
"Oh, I am so glad!" she said.
Nevins took her hands in his and held them while he looked at her. She was older and graver and changed in some vital way, as if the years or sorrow had mellowed the temperament of her youth. There was a deeper thrill to her voice, a softer light in her eyes, and a gentler curve to her mouth, and over all, in voice and eyes and mouth, there was the shadow of discontent.
She wore a coat of green velvet, with ruffles of white showing at the loosened front, where a bunch of violets was knotted, and over the brim of her hat a plume fell against the aureole of her hair.
"I am so glad," she repeated. Then she turned to Ardly with the same fervent pressure of the hands.
"It is too good to be true," she went on. "It is like dropping back into girlhood. Why, there is dear Mr. Paul!"
Mr. Paul rose and accepted the proffered hands.