But it was not, after all, Jane Chichester who had called. When Mr. Farrar returned to the library he found Ruth Tracy there awaiting him.
“Barry was here,” he said, “and you gave him a great fright.”
“Indeed! How was that?”
“He thought it was Jane Chichester who came in.”
“Why should he be frightened at Jane?”
“Oh, I’m not sure but that he has good reason to be. At any rate I helped him to make his escape by the back door. He would have been quite willing that I should ‘let him down by the wall in a basket,’ after the manner of Saul’s escape from his enemies at Damascus. Barry is somewhat nervous to-day, anyway. He came to tell me that his father has disowned him.”
“Because of his conversion to socialism?”
“Yes, and because of his adherence to me and to my cause, and because of his friendly relations with Mrs. Bradley.”
“I’m sorry. How does he take it?”
“Like a hero. But, Miss Tracy, I can’t get it out of my mind that in some way I am responsible for his misfortunes. Perhaps I should not have encouraged him, perhaps I should not have permitted him, to cast in his lot with us.”