"This is Gray Gables, is it not?" exclaimed a tremulous voice from behind the veil.
"I should have supposed you would have found that out before you entered the grounds," declared the man, suspiciously.
She saw her mistake, and started.
"I only wanted to make sure that I was right," she said, apologetically. "I—I have business with the housekeeper; I want to see her."
Before she could utter another word he whistled sharply. His call brought a small lad to his side.
"Tell Mrs. Kemp there's a young woman here who would like to see her. What name, please?" he asked, abruptly, turning to the veiled figure.
"I—I am afraid she wouldn't know; but you might, mention the name—Miss Mead"—this rather stutteringly.
Very soon the answer came back that the housekeeper did not know Miss Mead, and hadn't time to see strangers.
"But I must see her!" implored the excited voice from behind the thick veil. "Do let me go to the house to her. I will detain her but a moment, I assure you. She would be so sorry if she missed seeing me."
With no suspicion of the terrible catastrophe that was to follow on the heels of it, the man without further ado allowed her to pass.