Rudolph looked not guilty, but grave.
“Well” said he, “people don’t hang about a place, at the risk of getting taken up ‘on suspicion of loitering, for the purpose of committing a felony,’ without some reason.”
“Why,” cried Mabin triumphantly, “that is the reason! Mrs. Dale has some lovely diamond rings, and the loitering gentleman wants to steal them!”
“Well, perhaps you are right,” said Rudolph doubtfully.
“I am sure of it!” retorted Mabin resolutely. And she held out her hand. “Good-by, and thank you for your help.”
“And you will remember my parable about the Roses?” said he, as he took her hand and thought he liked gray eyes after all better than blue ones.
“Perhaps,” said Mabin cautiously, as she hopped away on her crutches.
CHAPTER IV.
WAS IT A RECOGNITION?
While Mabin was still talking to Rudolph in the road between “The Towers” and “Stone House,” a tall parlormaid, in snow-white French cap and ends, passed them, on her way from the former to the latter house, bearing a letter in her hand.
And when Mabin reached home, she found that the Powers had already received Mrs. Dale’s invitation to Mabin.