In silence I held the small gate open for her, and together we passed on along the path beside the winding stream. Both our hearts were too full for words after that unusual exchange of confidences.
Of a sudden before us, advancing in our direction, there appeared the figure of some one in the shadow beneath the trees.
Lucie detected it at the same instant as myself, and halting drew back in quick alarm.
“We must not be seen here together,” she gasped. “People would talk, and it would quickly get to my father’s ears.”
“And what harm if it did?” I asked, but ere she could reply a strange thing happened—an incident more startling and more amazing than any I could have ever imagined in my wildest dreams.
I held my breath, and stood rooted to the spot.