Forgetting the people who were clattering joyous welcomes below, Charles put his arm close about her, as if he were shielding her from a present terrible danger. He looked into her face and spoke in low, firm tones: "I don’t just seem to understand you, dear, but you mustn’t be so frightened. There isn’t anything in the world to be afraid of. I will try to make everything just as you want it——" "But how can you?" Dawn’s breath came in short sobs. She was almost at the limit of her self-control. "Will he let you? Will it be right?" "Dear, listen! I don’t know what you mean by some of the things you have said. I’m afraid all the trouble has upset you. Perhaps you have a fever——" "No! No!" said Dawn, almost impatiently, for she saw that the driver had landed the trunk on the piazza and was preparing to come back to the coach, and that some of the passengers were climbing in again. There would be but a moment more. "It is I that do not understand," she added, and her voice was very steady. She felt as if she must make her meaning plain now. "I was married to him this morning, and now he is gone away somewhere, and you say I need never see him again. He went away just after the ceremony. They said his mother fainted and he took her away. I have not seen him since. What does it all mean? I do not understand. It is like some awful dream." Charles’s heart sank in horror as he listened to her words. Had she lost her mind, or, more awful yet, had she in some mysterious way been married to him without knowing it? The latter seemed almost incredible, yet if it were true, what sorrow might it not mean to them both! Poor child! He must be very gentle with her, whatever were the case. And meantime the driver’s foot was upon the wheel. Charles leaned over as if to tuck the linen robe about her to protect her from the dust, and whispered: "You were not married to him at all. Don’t you remember?" "Do you mean I was not married, then? But I heard the minister say the words, ’I pronounce you husband and wife, and what God hath joined——’" Dawn shuddered again. "I heard it. I didn’t look up, but I heard it. You needn’t be afraid to tell me the truth. I will not cry or anything." The driver plumped down on the seat with a loud laugh at some joke the old farmer was getting off, and vowed he would be late if they kept him any longer, that he must go around by Applebee’s and Deacon Forsythe’s yet, and it was almost dark. Then with another hearty laugh he chirruped to his horses, and they strained and started, and with a lurch and a swirl of the coach they were flying down the stony road to the gate again, and there was no more opportunity to talk unheard.