He rode down to the Herndon house with grave face and sober thought.

If he could only understand this girl; if he could only once look into her heart, and know the meaning of her ever-changing actions, her puzzling words! He felt convinced he had surprised the reflection of love within her eyes; but soon the reflection vanished.

The end was ever the same--he only knew he loved her.
He recalled long the plainly furnished room into which Mrs.Herndon ushered him to await the girl's appearance--the formal look of the old-fashioned hair-cloth furniture, the prim striped paper on the walls, the green shades at the windows, the clean rag carpet on the floor.

The very stiffness chilled him, left him ill at ease.

To calm his spirit he walked to a window, and stood staring out into the warm sunlight.