“But if he knows you are mine, surely, Dexie, he is enough of a gentleman to leave you alone in the future.”

“Well, I may be needlessly alarmed, but I feel a presentiment of evil, and should an ill wind blow him this way, you must be extra good to me while he is here—­come oftener—­and I will feel safe, at least, while you are with me.”

About two weeks later, when all thought of Hugh McNeil had been dispelled, Dexie’s presentiment of evil took shape.  He arrived in Lennoxville on the afternoon train, and a few inquiries soon brought him to Mr. Sherwood’s residence.

Mrs. Sherwood and Gussie were out making calls that afternoon, and Dexie was busy in the kitchen making some new dainty, and was much interested in watching the result of her work, when Mrs. Jarvis came in search of her.

“Dexie, there is a gentleman in the parlor asking to see you.”

“What a nuisance, when I want to see how this turns out!  It is not Mr. Traverse at this hour, of course,” she added, carelessly.

“No; it is a stranger.  He is a large, dark-complexioned man, with a heavy black moustache and beautiful black eyes—­a perfect gentleman, Dexie!”

The dish fell from Dexie’s hand with a crash to the floor.

“Heaven preserve me! what shall I do?” and she turned pale to her lips.  “I cannot see him, Jarvis; I really cannot!  Here, I’ll write a line to papa, and you can take the gentleman to his room,” and with trembling fingers she wrote a few words and gave them to the nurse; then, throwing off her big apron, she seized a hat, sayings to Eliza, who looked on in astonishment: 

“Tell Mrs. Jarvis that I have gone over to Ada Chester’s, and I won’t be back till tea-time, when I hope that man will be gone; and oh, Eliza! do, like a good girl, clean up that mess for me,” pointing to the demolished dish and the contents thereof, “and I’ll do something for you sometime.  I dare not stop, for I am properly scared for once,” and she flew out the back-door, down through the kitchen garden and into a back street, out of sight of the house, before she stopped to regain her breath.

Mrs. Jarvis was thoroughly surprised at Dexie’s behavior, but she carried the little note to Mr. Sherwood and waited his direction.

“Yes; show the gentleman here, and I will see him.”

“Well, Hugh, so you have found us out,” as he appeared behind Mrs. Jarvis.  “You find me on my back.  Get a chair for yourself.”

Hugh was surprised to learn of the seriousness of the accident that rendered this position of his friend necessary, having supposed it a slight affair from which he had long since recovered.

The two men talked for some time on matters in general, when Hugh said: 

“I suppose you know what has brought me here, Mr. Sherwood.  My feelings for Dexie have not changed, unless they have become more intense.  I heard through the Gurneys that her engagement with Lancy was at an end, and started from Australia at once, on purpose to try again to win her.  I have still your permission; have I not?” he eagerly asked.