“Huldah—­daughter!”

The child glided swiftly to the cot, and, looking round, Edna doubted the evidence of her senses; for by the side of the sufferer stood a figure so like Mr. Murray that her heart began to throb painfully.

The corner of the room was dim and shadowy, but a strong, deep voice soon dispelled all doubt.

“I hope you are better to-day, Reed.  Here are some grapes which will refresh you, and you can eat them as freely as your appetite prompts.”

Mr. Murray placed a luscious cluster in the emaciated hands, and put the basket down on the floor near the cot.  As he drew a chair from the wall and seated himself, Edna crossed the room stealthily, and, laying her hand on Huldah’s shoulder, led her out to the front steps.

“Huldah, has Mr. Murray ever been here before?”

“Oh! yes—­often and often; but he generally comes later than this.  He brings all the wine poor pa drinks, and very often peaches and grapes.  Oh! he is so good to us.  I love to hear him come up the steps; and many a time, when pa is asleep, I sit here at night, listening for the gallop of Mr. Murray’s horse.  Somehow I feel so safe, as if nothing could go wrong, when he is in the house.”

“Why did you never tell me this before?  Why have you not spoken of him?”

“Because he charged me not to speak to any one about it—­said he did not choose to have it known that he ever came here.  There! pa is calling me.  Won’t you come in and speak to him?”

“Not this evening.  Good-bye.  I will come again soon.”

Edna stooped, kissed the child hastily, and walked away.

She had only reached the gate, where Tamerlane was fastened, when Mr. Murray came out of the house.

“Edna!”

Reluctantly she stopped and waited for him.

“Are you not afraid to walk home alone?”

“No, sir; I am out frequently even later than this.”

“It is not exactly prudent for you to go home now alone; for it will be quite dark before you can possibly reach the park gate.”

He passed his horse’s reins over his arm, and led him along the road.

“I am not going that way, sir.  There is a path through the woods that is much shorter than the road and I can get through an opening in the orchard fence.  Good evening.”

She turned abruptly from the beaten road, but he caught her dress and detained her.

“I told you some time ago that I never permitted espionage in my affairs; and now with reference to what occurred at the greenhouse, I advise you to keep silent.  Do you understand me?”

“In the first place, sir, I could not condescend to play spy on the actions of any one; and in the second, you may rest assured I shall not trouble myself to comment upon your affairs, in which I certainly have no interest.  Your estimate of me must be contemptible indeed, if you imagine that I can only employ myself in watching your career.  Dismiss your apprehensions, and rest in the assurance that I consider it no business of mine where you go or what you may choose to do.”