Molly shivered. There was something about the man’s low, modulated tones that repelled Virginia. She tried in vain to see his face. She was sure that nowhere in the hills was there such a man.
“You’ve been gone so long I thought you’d forgotten or—or were dead,” breathed Molly, covering her face with her hands.
“Not forgotten, but I wasn’t able to get back.”
“You could have written me.”
The man shrugged himself impatiently.
“But I didn’t. Don’t rake up old things; please don’t. Molly, look at me.”
Molly uncovered a pair of unwilling eyes and centered them upon his face.
“What makes you act so? Are you afraid?” 37
“I did not expect you back, that’s all.”
“That’s not it! Tell me what’s on your mind.... Tell me.”