She stood with clenched hands, her bosom rising and falling in the passion of the storm within her; and she sobbed even as Nathaniel paused there, unmanned in this sudden presence of a distress greater than his own; sobbed in a choking, tearless way, waiting for him to speak.
"Forgive me," he spoke gently.

"I have come--for--Marion." He felt that he had no reason to lie to this woman.

His face betrayed his own anguish as he came nearer to her.

"I want Marion," he repeated.

"My God, won't you tell me-- ?" She struggled to calm herself as he spoke the girl's name.
"Marion is not here," she said.