She went to the end of the porch and tried to make out some sign that would indicate its presence, but the mist was too thick.  Yet the light from the living-room windows shone directly down that way.  “I believe if I were out there I could see something,” she reflected.  “I’m going to change my clothes—­I might as well soak them a little more.”  She ran back into the hall, caught up her blue coat, and pulling it on flew out again and plunged off the porch into the darkness, the April rain, more mist than drops, falling on her fair curls.  The grass was long and wet, but she cared for nothing now, and dashed on till she came to the first box-border, lying distinct in one of the shafts of light from the windows.

Hunting expectantly about she explored the whole garden, laughing softly to herself at the absurdity of the performance, for she was growing wetter every minute.  She felt of the ground where she could not see it, exulting in the discovery of ranks of tulips, where she had planted their bulbs last fall, just breaking into bud.

“You dear things,” she said, under her breath, “how enchanting of you to be out to welcome me home, when you had never met me before!—­Over there’s the sweet pea trellis—­I wonder if Bob put the seeds in as I wrote him?  Can I tell by the feel of the ground?  Oh, the light falls there—­I can see.”

She was so absorbed in this entertaining exploration that she did not hear the distant closing of a door beyond the pine grove, nor the footsteps which presently came that way and paused, just beyond the orchard.  Neither did she guess at the quiet approach of a tall figure through the mist, until it stood upon the edge of the garden.  The first she knew of its presence was the sound of a familiar voice, speaking quietly so that it might not startle her, yet with a note of joy plainly perceptible through its control.

“Can I believe my eyes—­or am I dreaming that I see you, Sally Lane?”

“Oh, Jarvis!” The cry was a startled one, in spite of his precaution.  Then the blue figure flew toward the gray one in the shadow, both hands out, as Sally forgot everything except that here at last was one who seemed to belong to her own household.

“My dear girl!  When did you come?  Have we missed getting a message?” Jarvis, meeting her more than half way, held the small hands tight, stooping to try to see into her face.

“No, no—­I didn’t send any—­I wanted to surprise you all.  Uncle Tim decided to stop off in Washington for a week, and I couldn’t bear to wait.  He is perfectly well now, and said I might come on.  So I came.  I never dreamed that every one would be away.”

“It’s a confounded mischance,” his lips said heartily, but his thoughts added—­“for everybody but me.”  He went on quickly, “You mustn’t stay out here.  How long have you been out?” He touched her hair.  “Why, it’s soaking wet.  Come in, child.”

He kept firm hold of one hand and drew her with him in a rapid progress to the porch.  The moment the light fell on her face he was expectantly studying it, and when he had her in the hall under the stronger rays he stood still and looked at her as if he wanted to make up for months of deprivation.  She turned a rosy red under his scrutiny, her cheeks looking like moist but vivid flowers, drops of rain sparkling in her hair and clinging even to her lashes.