Following the path over the rocks, she came at last to the empty house.
A faint mew sounded from within. She turned the knob, and found the door unlocked. "Peter," she called again, and the big cat came forth, his tail waving like a plume.
Diana, facing the darkness of the great hall, felt impelled to enter, to slip silently up the stairs, to stand on the threshold of the moonlighted chamber, whence came the perfume of white lilacs.
And as she stood there, she saw, with a sudden leap of the heart, that Anthony was before her. Silhouetted against the wide space of the open window he was looking out at the flashing light.
She put her hand to her throat. She stepped back as if to escape. Then, swayed by an impulse which cast prudence to the winds, she spoke his name.
"Anthony!"
"Diana!"
He had turned from the window, and was peering through the dimness. He came toward her. She held out her hands to keep him back.
"Oh, please—no—no——"
But he took her in his arms.