Durgan was not calm. He felt his hand tremble as he brought from the
shelf a book which Bertha had asked for.
Ten minutes before a contention had arisen between himself and Bertha as
to the time of the moon's rising. To satisfy himself he had walked on
the soft grass as far as the gable of the house nearest his footpath.
Watching a moment in the shadow, he had heard a movement in the wood. As
the first moon-rays lit the gloom he saw the figure of a woman standing
on the low bough of an old oak and reaching a long arm toward an upper
branch. All the oaks here were stunted and easy to climb. That this was
Adam's wife he did not doubt, till, when she had lightly jumped down,
he discerned that she was returning attended by the dogs.
Durgan went back hastily lest Bertha should follow him. He reported only
the rising of the moon. A moment's thought convinced him that he had
been invited that evening for the purpose of keeping Bertha from the
knowledge of her sister's excursion. No one but Miss Smith could have
taken the dogs. He guessed that she had fulfilled some promise to the
boy, 'Dolphus--some promise given him on the slip of paper in the
bank-note, of putting money where he might seek it. Amazing as the
method resorted to was, Durgan felt no doubt that Miss Smith's action
was wise and right in her own eyes, but he was convinced that she was
putting herself in danger.
shelf a book which Bertha had asked for.
Ten minutes before a contention had arisen between himself and Bertha as
to the time of the moon's rising. To satisfy himself he had walked on
the soft grass as far as the gable of the house nearest his footpath.
Watching a moment in the shadow, he had heard a movement in the wood. As
the first moon-rays lit the gloom he saw the figure of a woman standing
on the low bough of an old oak and reaching a long arm toward an upper
branch. All the oaks here were stunted and easy to climb. That this was
Adam's wife he did not doubt, till, when she had lightly jumped down,
he discerned that she was returning attended by the dogs.
Durgan went back hastily lest Bertha should follow him. He reported only
the rising of the moon. A moment's thought convinced him that he had
been invited that evening for the purpose of keeping Bertha from the
knowledge of her sister's excursion. No one but Miss Smith could have
taken the dogs. He guessed that she had fulfilled some promise to the
boy, 'Dolphus--some promise given him on the slip of paper in the
bank-note, of putting money where he might seek it. Amazing as the
method resorted to was, Durgan felt no doubt that Miss Smith's action
was wise and right in her own eyes, but he was convinced that she was
putting herself in danger.