He did not think it seemly to intrude upon the lady before this hour, and now he ascended her steps and knocked at her door.

The dogs thumped their tails on the wooden veranda; it was only of late they had learned this welcome for him.

Would they give it now, he wondered, if they could see his heart?
As he stood there waiting for a minute, he felt that it would be good, if possible, to have laid his dilemma fairly before the canine sense and heart, and to have let the dogs rise and tear him or let him pass, as they judged best.

It was a foolish fancy.
It was O'Shea's wife who opened the door; her face was disfigured by crying.
"You have told her ?" demanded Caius, with relief.
The woman shook her head.
"It was the fine morning that tempted her out, sir," she said.

"She sent down to me, saying how she had taken a cup of milk and gone to ride on the beach, and I was to come up and look after the girls.