He gained the gate in the fence of wood paling, opened it, and entered. The lawn and house were lit with the unearthly radiance of moonlight threatened by eclipse. He could see the light in Graham's study and, through the open doors, the faint glow of the hall-lamp. But there was no one visible.
He hurried up the path, tortured by impatience, fear, longing, despair....
Then he saw what seemed at first a pale shadow detach itself from darker shades in the shrubbery and move toward him.
"Nat, is it you?"
"Betty!"
His whole heart was in that cry; the girl thrilled to its timbre as though a master hand had struck a chord upon her heart-strings.
"Nat, what—what is it?"
"Betty, I want to tell you something."
She came very slowly toward him, torn alternately by fear and hope. What did he mean?
"Do you happen to remember that I told you a while ago I was engaged to Josie Lockwood?"