In the mellow orange light that had climbed the sky, and was flooding the world with a mild glory, wherein the wan moon waned ghostly, the old woman led the white figure toward the parsonage.  When they reached the little gate, Regina grasped the supporting arm, and a deadly pallor overspread her features.

“Where are you, Hannah?  I cannot see——­”

The blue eyes closed, she tottered, and as Hannah caught and bore her up, a swift heavy step on the gravel caused her to glance over her shoulder.

“What is the matter, Aunt Hannah?  You look ill and frightened.  Is that Minnie’s child?”

“Hush! our game is all up.  For God’s sake go away until seven o’clock, then I will explain.  Don’t make a noise, Peleg.  I must get her in the house without waking any one.  If Mr. Hargrove should see us, we are ruined.”

As Hannah strode swiftly toward the glass door, bearing the slight form in her stout arms, the stranger pressed forward, eagerly scrutinizing the girl’s face; but at this juncture Hero, barking violently, sprang down the walk, and the intruder hastily retreated to the churchyard, securing the gate after he passed through.

CHAPTER XI.

The steamer sailed promptly on the Thursday subsequent to Mrs. Lindsay’s departure from the parsonage, but she had been absent ten days, detained by the illness of a friend in Boston.

Impatiently her return was anticipated by every member of the household, and when a telegram announced that she might be expected on the following morning, general rejoicing succeeded the gloom which had hung chill and lowering over the diminished family circle.  Under Hannah’s faithful, cautious treatment Regina had sufficiently recovered from the effects of the sprain to walk once more without much pain, though she still limped perceptibly; but a nameless, formless foreboding of some impending evil—­some baleful influence—­some grievous calamity hovering near—­rendered her particularly anxious for Mrs. Lindsay’s comforting presence.

The condition of the church, which was undergoing a complete renovation, as well as repairing of the steeple, prevented the usual services, and this compulsory rest and leisure seemed singularly opportune for Mr. Hargrove, who had been quite indisposed and feeble for some days.  The physician ascribed his condition to the lassitude induced by the excessive heat, and Regina attributed his pale weary aspect and evident prostration to grief for the loss of his nephew and adopted son; but Hannah looked deeper, shook her grizzled head, and “wished Miss Elise would come home.”

The pastor’s eyes which had long resented the exaggerated taxation imposed upon them by years of study, had recently rebelled outright, and he spoke of the necessity of visiting New York to consult an eminent oculist, who, Mrs. Lindsay wrote, had gone to Canada, but would return in September, when he hoped to examine and undertake the treatment of her brother’s eyes.