Bodney shook his head. "No, I thank you—I don’t care for it. I have quit borrowing."
"Not at all. I am grateful to you for not lending it to me."
Late in the evening he went back to the office. No one was there, but soon the negro janitor came in and pointed to a damp spot on the floor. "I have washed up the blood where the man fainted and fell," he said. "The doctor brought him to all right, and there’s a note on the table he left for you."
Bodney opened the note and read: "I leave for Michigan, and will be back within a few days. I don’t blame you as much as I do myself. I permitted you to break away from me, but you will come back and at last be thankful. Goyle."
Bodney’s "breaking away" from Goyle had taken place on the day following the night when Bradley had been robbed of his watch, and two days before the girl appeared in church to ask for prayers. On the Monday following, about noon, she appeared again, this time at Bradley’s lodgings. The housekeeper answered her ring at the bell. "Ah," she said, "come in. You are Mr. Bradley’s sister, I believe. I didn’t see you but a moment, but I think I recognize you."
"No, your brother has gone out. I think you can find him over at Judge Elbridge’s. I don’t know exactly where it is, but some place on Indiana Avenue. Anyone can tell you. I hope you haven’t any more bad news for him."
The girl was shrewd and did not betray herself. "No," she said, and went away. Bradley was in the Judge’s drawing room with Agnes when a servant came in to tell him that a young woman at the door wished to see him.
"Oh, a young woman," cried Agnes, pretending to pout. "Some girl you have been talking sweet to, I warrant." He had risen to go out, but he halted to lean over and say to her, "I have never talked sweet, as you term it, to anyone—except—"
"This one," Agnes broke in. "Oh, go on. Don’t let me detain you."
"Probably someone connected with the church—"
"Of course, they always are. Go on, please."
"I will tell you all about her when I come back."
"Oh, don’t mind me. Here’s Florence. She knows I don’t care. Do please go on."
Bradley went out, and not with a light heart, for his love had now entered into the stew and fretful state. The girl stood in the hall, and in the dim light he did not recognize her till she spoke. She handed him a small package.