When at last her visitor emerged from the gloom, he showed himself beyond youthful years, with hair slightly touched with gray, not tall, but of a commanding presence, with clear, keen blue eyes, and with cheeks which were tanned by out-of-door exercise, and reddened by the prevailing weather.
"I just had to come," he said, as he took her hand. "I knew you'd be frightened."
"Yes," she said, "Miss Matthews is at school, and I am alone——"
"And unhappy?"
Her lips quivered, but she drew her hand from his, and went on into the shabby room, where she lighted a candle in a brass holder, and touched a match to a fire which was laid in the blackened brick fireplace.
The doctor's quick eye noted the preparations for departure.
"What does that mean?" he asked, and pointed to the trunk.
"I—I am going away——"
"Away?"
"Yes," nervously; "I—I can't stay here, doctor."