La Fleur had seen the couple standing together on the little hill, but she had thought it a pity to disturb their tête-à-tête.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
CICELY READS BY MOONLIGHT
Just before Cicely reached the back piazza, La Fleur came out of the kitchen door with the telegram in her hand.
"Do you know," she said, "if Mr. Haverley has come home, and where I can find him? Here is a message for him, and I have been looking for him, high and low."
"A telegram!" exclaimed Cicely. "He is at the barn. I will take it to him. I can get there sooner than you can, La Fleur," and without further word, she took the yellow missive and ran with it toward the barn. She met Ralph half way, and stood by him while he read the message.
"I hope," she cried as she looked into his pale face, "that nothing has happened to Miriam."
"Read that," he said, his voice trembling. "Do you suppose—" but he could not utter the words that were in his mind.
Cicely seized the telegram and eagerly read it. She was on the point of screaming, but checked herself.
"How terrible!" she exclaimed. "But what can it mean? It is from Miss Panney. Oh! I think it is wicked to send a message like that, which does not tell you what has happened."