streak of early dawn became visible in the east. One of them, a
lank, plain-featured young man of ungainly aspect but penetrating
eye, called the attention of the others to it.

"Look!" said he; "there is the daylight! This has been a gay night
for Sutherlandtown."

"Too gay," muttered another, starting aside as the slight figure
of a young man coming from the house behind them rushed hastily
by. "Why, who's that?"

As they one and all had recognised the person thus alluded to, no
one answered till he had dashed out of the gate and disappeared in
the woods on the other side of the road. Then they all spoke at
once.

"It's Mr. Frederick!"

"He seems in a desperate hurry."

"He trod on my toes."

"Did you hear the words he was muttering as he went by?"

As only the last question was calculated to rouse any interest, it
alone received attention.

"No; what were they? I heard him say something, but I failed to
catch the words."