A chair moved on the piazza, and she heard him go down the steps. As soon as practicable she got up noiselessly and tiptoed across to the staircase. With a breath of relief she shut the door of her own room. Nobody had seen her come up.
When she and Mrs. Randolph and Miss Crilly went for their afternoon walk they left the house by way of the kitchen.
At the tea-table Polly saw David looking keenly at her, and then once again. Both times she turned her eyes quickly; she did not even glance at him the third time, and he did not speak to her directly during the meal. Afterwards she helped Mrs. Randolph and Miss Crilly put the children to bed, and then they joined Mrs. Daybill on the veranda. Lilith and Dr. Abbe and David did not appear until late. Then David looked grave and forbidding. He scarcely spoke.
Polly wondered what had become of the note—if it were a note—that David had wished Esther to give her.
At breakfast David addressed Polly directly.
“I must be going down to Fair Harbor,” he said. “Are you willing I should take your car down the mountain?”
“Certainly,” answered Polly, “if you feel that you must go.”
“I have been away from home too long already,” he replied. “Will you go down with me, to bring the car back?” he asked, meeting her eyes squarely.
For an almost imperceptible instant she hesitated. Then she answered, “Why, yes, thank you, I shall be glad to go.”
He smiled. The hour was set. Dr. Abbe and the others expressed regrets; but Polly said nothing further.