[Illustration: musical notation]
"It's only someone who has stopped in passing," Rose thought, "to ask the way to the next town, or to get a glass of water, or—I won't be foolish! I'll go in!"
So she crossed the threshold, into the house where Love lived.
At the sound of her step, the man turned quickly, the music ending in a broken chord.
"You!" she gasped. "Oh, how could you come!"
"By train," answered Allison, gently, "and then by walking. I've frightened you, Rose."
"No," she stammered sinking into a chair. "I'm—I'm surprised, of course. I'm glad you're well enough to be about again. Did—is anything wrong with Aunt Francesca?" she asked, anxiously.
"Indeed there isn't. She was blooming like a lilac bush in May, when I saw her last night."
"Did-did—she tell you?"
"She did not," he returned, concisely.