dead, and she'd a hundred times rather be dead, than that Leonard
Byington should be her rescuer! Come in here a minute."

Slipping both hands into his she drew him into the lighted room, adding
as they went, "In a few minutes I can make some errand to her and find
how matters stand"--

They stumbled over a disordered rug. She fell into a chair; he sank to
his knees, and with his face in her hands he moaned, "Oh, Ruth! Oh,
Ruth! it's my fault after all! I should have gone away at the
beginning!"

Ruth and Arthur met face to face in the Winslow garden. "I was just
coming for you," he said, excitedly.

"For Isabel?"

"Yes, her mother is with her, and"--a sound of wheels--"here's Giles,
now, off for the doctor."

The servant passed. "Yes, I got here by the sunset express. I couldn't
stay away--with this impending."

"I didn't see you come."

"No, of course you didn't see me, for I didn't go to the station, and so
I didn't pass anywhere near your house. I got off at the tank and came
up the hill path."

"You must have got drenched; you _are_ drenched."