Jane seldom saw him smile and never heard him sing and she feared that he often shirked her company.
One hot morning at the end of August she had a shock.

He had taken his breakfast before she came down and he had left her no note of greeting or explanation.

She ran to a window that overlooked the main avenue and she could see him walking slowly towards the principal entrance.

Her first instinct was to follow him--to send the house man to delay him--to bring him back by some or any means.

Once she could and would have done so, but she did not feel it wise or possible then.