"Before I meant it."

* * * * *

"I wonder who can be arriving. That is the carriage I came out in last
night."

A light surrey with two seats passed below the hill, and was visible an
instant against a belt of sky.

"It is going to stop," said Mrs. Thorne. "Suppose we step back a little. I
shall not see visitors to-night. Very likely it is only some one for Mr.
Thorne."

A tall young man in traveling clothes stepped out upon the horse-block,
left his luggage there, and made ten strides up the walk. They heard his
step exploring the empty piazzas.

"It is Willy!" said Mrs. Thorne in a staccato whisper.

"Then good-by!" said Miss Benedet. "I will find Mr. Thorne in the garden.
Dearest Mrs. Thorne, you must let me go!"

"You will not see him? Not see Willy!"

"Not for worlds. He must not know that I am here. I trust you." She tore
herself away.

Mrs. Thorne stood paralyzed between the two--her advancing son, and her