第42章

"Don't see no visitors," answered the large maiden. "'T'other one tried it and had to go away. You go, too.""'T'othor one?" I repeated. "Another visitor? And when did he call?""Better than an hour ago."

"Was there nobody with him?"

"No. Don't see no visitors. He went. You go, too "Just as she repeated that exasperating formula of words, a door opened at the end of the passage. My voice had evidently reached the ears of somebody in the back parlor. Who the person was Icould not see, but I heard the rustle of a woman's dress. My situation was growing desperate, my suspicions were aroused--Idetermined to risk everything--and I called softly in the direction of the open door, "Alicia!"A voice answered, "Good heavens! Frank?" It was _her_ voice. She had recognized mine. I pushed past the big servant; in two steps I was at the end of the passage; in one more I was in the back parlor.

She was there, standing alone by the side of a table. Seeing my changed costume and altered face, she turned deadly pale, and stretched her hand behind her mechanically, as if to take hold of a chair. I caught her in my arms; but I was afraid to kiss her--she trembled so when I only touched her.

"Frank!" she said, drawing her head back. "What is it? How did you find out? For mercy's sake what does it mean?""It means, love, that I've come to take care of you for the rest of your life and mine, if you will only let me. Don't tremble--there's nothing to be afraid of! Only compose yourself, and I'll tell you why I am here in this strange disguise. Come, come, Alicia!--don't look like that at me. You called me Frank just now, for the first time. Would you have done that, if you had disliked me or forgotten me?"I saw her color beginning to come back--the old bright glow returning to the dear dusky cheeks. If I had not seen them so near me, I might have exercised some self-control--as it was, Ilost my presence of mind entirely, and kissed her.

She drew herself away half-frightened, half-confused--certainly not offended, and, apparently, not very likely to faint--which was more than I could have said of her when I first entered the room. Before she had time to reflect on the peril and awkwardness of our position, I pressed the first necessary questions on her rapidly, one after the other.

"Where is Mrs. Baggs?" I asked first.

Mrs. Baggs was the housekeeper.

Alicia pointed to the closed folding-doors. "In the front parlor;asleep on the sofa."

"Have you any suspicion who the stranger was who called more than an hour ago?""None. The servant told him we saw no visitors, and he went away, without leaving his name.""Have you heard from your father?"

She began to turn pale again, but controlled herself bravely, and answered in a whisper: