Mrs. Randall was down on the walk, the professor was looking anxiously to Starlight's harness; Frances had lingered purposely.
The road home was rough, ruts and steep hills darkened by thick woods. Mr. Holloway was looking carefully to the fastenings of Starlight's harness, unwilling to trust too much to the hands of the boy who had brought him to the door. Mrs. Randall waited near him, Frances lingered purposely on the broad high steps of the porch.
The moonlight flooded the world; its white light gleamed on the drive about the circle where the tangled shrubbery cast weird shadowings; the dusk under the trees on the further lawn lay heavy and black; far-off loomed the oaks above the graves of those who had lived and died in the old house on whose steps they stood. The air of the autumn night was chill and still, save for the restless movements of Starlight. With the shadowed, unreal face of the night a feeling of awe touched Frances. She made a step nearer to the young man standing by her, his tall figure towering above her, his fair face shadowed by his big soft hat.
"We have had a lovely visit," she said softly.
"And it's such a beautiful old place--beautiful; you must trim up your roses and--"
"But I do; I will show you when we come again."
There was no answer, and the young woman began to realize this was not a case for cajolery, but for open candid speech.
"You must think me very, very--" she could not bring herself to say "flippant" no matter what self-accusation said. "You know I was only jesting, and we have thoroughly enjoyed our visit. I want to come again if you wish us," plainly throwing herself on his mercy and bidding for kind speech.
"If I wish you--" began the young man hurriedly.
"We will come and show you about the flowers in the spring," briskly.
"You are not angry?" she questioned quickly and softly, as they went down the steps.
"No!" was all he said, yet Frances was quite satisfied with his friendliness as he put them in the trap and tucked the robes about them.
"Mind the old hill," he cautioned her father; "there's a new road through the wood to the left now--"
"And a tree is cut down across the old way; but it's dark in there and you might get into it."