For the moment, my own agitation almost overpowered me; I had so firmly disbelieved that John Jago was a living man! "What shall I do ?" Naomi repeated.
"Is the door of the dairy open ?" I asked.
"No; but the door of the tool-house, round the corner, is not locked." "Very good.

Show yourself at the window, and say to him, 'I am coming directly.'" The brave girl obeyed me without a moment's hesitation.
There had been no doubt about his eyes and his gait; there was no doubt now about his voice, as he answered softly from below--"All right!" "Keep him talking to you where he is now," I said to Naomi, "until I have time to get round by the other way to the tool-house.

Then pretend to be fearful of discovery at the dairy, and bring him round the corner, so that I can hear him behind the door." We left the house together, and separated silently.

Naomi followed my instructions with a woman's quick intelligence where stratagems are concerned.

I had hardly been a minute in the tool-house before I heard him speaking to Naomi on the other side of the door.
The first words which I caught distinctly related to his motive for secretly leaving the farm.