Until their return Jack and Ruth found their hands tied.
On the afternoon of the second day a boy called at the brick office where Jack was settling up the final accounts connected with the "fill" and the tunnel, preparatory to the move to Morfordsburg, and handed him a note.

It was from Corinne.
"I am in great trouble.

Please come to me at once," it read.

"I am here at home." Corinne was waiting for him in the hall.

She took his hand without a word of welcome, and drew him into the small room where she had seen him two nights before.