By and by, he heard the lad’s voice and footsteps on the path. Jake was returning early and there was somebody with him, but Dick wished they had left him alone. He rose, however, as Ida came up the steps and into the light, which did not carry far. Dick imagined there was another person as well as Jake in the shadow behind.
“Jake brought me over to see his last sketches and I’m going in to criticize them,” she said. “As you couldn’t come to us, I’ve brought you a visitor, whom you know.”
Dick felt his heart beat as he saw Clare. She was dressed in white, and the silver clasp gleamed against a lavender band at her waist. It was significant that she wore it, but he could not see her face clearly. Then Ida beckoned Jake.
“Come along; I want to look at the drawings.”
They went into the house, and Dick made an effort to preserve his self-control. Clare moved into the light and he saw her color rise, though her eyes were very soft.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were ill?” she asked with gentle reproach.
He hesitated, trying to strengthen his resolution, which he knew was breaking down, and Clare resumed:
“Besides, I don’t think you should have kept that letter back.”
Dick instinctively pulled out the leather case, and started as he saw there was nothing inside.
“It’s gone. You have seen it?” he stammered.