"That beast ahead, did he touch you?"
"Oh, no; he didn't see us. We hid!" She tried to explain in hurrying, disconnected sentences. "I've been longing and praying for you to come! I tried to let you know before we started, and you weren't there. Lois was half crazy about Justin. Come to her now! She wanted to see Mr. Larue, and he was gone. We've walked from Collingswood; we have the baby with us."
"The baby!"
"Yes; she couldn't leave him behind. Oh, it's been so terrible! If you had only known!"
"Oh, why didn't I?" he groaned. "I ought to have known—I ought to have known! I was in that motor that must have passed you; it was just a chance that I got out to walk." They had reached the place where Lois sat, and he bent over her tenderly. She smiled into his anxious eyes, though her poor face was sunken and wan.
"I'm glad it's you," she whispered. "You'll help me to get home!"
"Dear Mrs. Alexander! I want to help you to more than that. I want you to tell me everything." He pressed her hand, and stood looking irresolutely down the road.
"I could go to Haledon, and send back a carriage for you; it's three miles further on."
"No, no, no! Don't leave us!" the accents came in terror from both. "We can walk with you. Only don't leave us!"
"Very well; we'll try it, then."