Absorbed in his work he was evidently unaware that he was observed. Her heart beat wildly as she watched him. She stifled a desire to call to him; checked an impulse to run to him. Irene had played a trick upon her in thus bringing her so near to Trenton! She wondered whether he had seen her and was purposely ignoring her. Or, he might think she had suggested this to Irene. Her face burned; she would escape somehow. As she watched him he lifted his head with a sigh, threw himself back wearily in his chair and stared at the wall. No; she would not speak to him; never again would she speak to him. Panic-stricken she turned and began cautiously tiptoeing toward the hall door with no thought but to leave the place at once.
But, the door gained, her heart beat suffocatingly; she could not go; she did love him, and to run away—
She stole into the room without disturbing his reverie, and laid her hand lightly on his shoulder.
“I couldn’t go—I couldn’t leave you—”
Then she was on her knees beside him, looking up into his startled eyes.
He raised her to her feet, tenderly, reverently, gazing eagerly into her face.
“How did you know?” he cried, his eyes alight.
“I didn’t know; it just happened. I—I saw you—and I just couldn’t run away!”
“Oh, say that again! I’ve missed you so! You can’t know how I’ve missed and needed you!”
“Do you—do you love me,” she asked softly, “as you used to think you did?”