Her very knees were shaking under her now; she stared around her like a trapped thing, desperate, feeling that self-control was going in sudden, ungovernable panic.

Scarcely knowing what she was about she crept to the telephone and, leaning heavily against the wall, placed the receiver to her ear.

For a long while she waited, dreading lest the operator had gone.  Then a far voice hailed her; she gave the name; waited interminable minutes until a servant’s sleepy voice requested her to hold the wire.  And, at last: 

“Is it you?”

* * * * *

“Garry, could you come here to-night?”

* * * * *

“Danger?  No, I am in no danger; I am just frightened.”

* * * * *

“I don’t know what is frightening me.”

* * * * *

“No, not ill.  It’s only that I am so horribly alone here in the rain.  I—­I cannot seem to endure it.”  She was speaking almost incoherently, now, scarcely conscious of what she was saying.  “There’s a man downstairs who talks in empty rooms and listens to things I cannot hear—­listens every day, I tell you; I’ve seen him often, often—­I mean Louis Malcourt!  And I cannot endure it—­the table that moves, and the—­O Garry!  Take me away with you.  I cannot stand it any longer!”

* * * * *

“Will you come?”

* * * * *

“To-night, Garry?”

* * * * *

“How long will you be?  I simply cannot stay alone in this house until you come.  I’ll go down and saddle my mare—­”

* * * * *

“What?”

* * * * *

“Oh, yes—­yes!  I know what I’m doing—­”

* * * * *

“Yes, I do remember, but—­why won’t you take me away from—­”

* * * * *

“I know it—­Oh, I know it!  I am half-crazed, I think—­”

* * * * *

“Yes—­”

* * * * *

“I do care for them still!  But—­”

* * * * *

“O Garry!  Garry!  I will be true to them!  I will do anything you wish, only come!  Come!  Come!”

* * * * *

“You promise?”

* * * * *

“At once?”

* * * * *

She hung up the receiver, turned, and flung open the window.

Over the wet woods a rain-washed moon glittered; the long storm had passed.

An hour later, as she kneeled by the open window, her chin on her arms, watching for him, out of the shadow and into the full moonlight galloped a rider who drew bridle on the distant lawn, waving her a gay gesture of reassurance.