Keziah started, as if the slam of the door had been an electric shock. During the interview she had been pale and grave but outwardly calm. Now she sank wearily down in the chair from which she had risen and her head dropped forward upon her arms on the table. The letter she had been reading before Captain Nat's arrival fell from her waist to the floor and lay there, its badly spelled and blotted lines showing black and fateful against the white paper. And she cried, tears of utter loneliness and despair. The clouds thickened as the afternoon passed. The setting sun was hidden behind them; over the horizon of ocean and bay the fog banks were rolling in tumbled, crumpled masses. The shadows in the lonely sitting room deepened. There came a knock at the dining-room door. Keziah sprang from her chair, smoothed her hair, hastily wiped her eyes, picked up the dropped letter and went to admit the visitor, whoever he or she might be. She was glad of the shadows, they prevented her face from being seen too plainly. “Good afternoon,” she said, opening the door. “Oh! it's you, is it?” “Yes,” admitted Abishai Pepper, standing on the stone step, and shifting uneasily from one foot to the other. “Yes, Keziah, it's--it's me, thank you.” “Don't mention it. Well, is Laviny with you?” “No--o, she ain't. She--she didn't come.” “Hum! Did she know you was comin'?” “No--o, I don't cal'late she did.” “I see. Well, what do you want?” Mrs. Coffin's welcome was not too cordial. She had laughed many times over Abishai's proposal of marriage, but she had never quite forgiven him for making her ridiculous on that occasion. Incidentally, she did not feel like laughing. “What do you want?” she repeated. Kyan was plainly nervous. “I only wanted to see Mr. Ellery,” he announced. “It's all right, Keziah. You needn't be afraid.” “Afraid! What on earth should I be afraid of?” “Why--why, I didn't know but you might be afraid I was goin' to--to talk about what we talked about when I--I talked to you that day up at--” “There! that'll do. It ain't me that would have reason to be afraid if THAT was what you come for. What do you want? Don't stand there dancin' a jig.” “I only wanted to see Mr. Ellery.” “He's out. Good day.” “But I won't keep him but a minute.” “He's out, I tell you. Do you want to leave a message?” “No--o. No, I guess not.” “Was it important?” “Oh! I don't know. Kind of, maybe. I wanted to ask his advice about somethin'. It's a secret. Only him and me know about it. Good-by.” “Shall I tell him you'll call again? Or ask him to come up to your house?” Mr. Pepper, who had started to go, now hurried back to the steps. “No, no,” he protested, in alarm. “Don't you tell him that. I wouldn't have him come there for no money. Why, Laviny, she--” “Oh, Laviny isn't in the secret, then?” Keziah smiled in spite of herself. “Not exactly. That is, not much. Don't you tell her I come here, will you? I'll find Mr. Ellery. I know where he is.”