He opened the door, went out and waited an instant to hear the key click behind him and ran plunging down the snowy road. Once on the way he looked up at the mysterious stars visible in the line of sky above the track he followed. Deeper and deeper it was, the mystery. He had given her a God to adore and keep her protecting company. He who did not believe had wrought her faith out of his unbelief. When he turned into the road, he thought he saw someone under the porch of his house and hurried, his mind alive to the chance of meeting Tenney, searching for her. The figure did not move and as he went up to the house a voice called to him. It was Amelia's. "O John, is that you? I can't see how you can leave the house alone to go wandering off in the woods and never saying a word." There she was in her fur coat, not so much frightened, he thought, as hurt. She was querulous with agitation. "All right, Milly," he said, and put an arm through hers, "here I am. And the house isn't alone. Don't get so nervous. Next thing you know, you'll have to see a specialist." "And Charlotte's gone," she lamented sharply, allowing him to march her in and turning, in the warm hall, to confront him. "Here I've been all alone." "Where's Jerry?" Raven had thrown off his hat and coat and frankly owned himself tired. "In the kitchen. But he won't tell where Charlotte is. He says she's gone up along." "Well, so she has, to a neighbor's. Come into the library and get 'het' through before you go to bed." "And," she lamented, letting him give her a kindly push toward the door, "I've got to pack, myself, if Charlotte doesn't come." "Pack?" He stared at her. "You're not leaving?" "Yes, John." She said it portentously, as bidding him remember he might be sorry when she was no more. "I'm going. Dick has telegraphed." "Anything the matter?" "That's it. I don't know. If I did, I could decide. He orders me, simply orders me, to take the early train. What do you make of it?" Raven considered. Actually, he thought, Dick was carrying out his benevolent plan of getting her back, by hook or crook. "I don't believe I'd worry, Milly," he said, gravely, "but I think you'd better go." "Yes," she said, "that's it. I don't dare not to. Something may be the matter. I've tried to telephone, but he doesn't answer. I must go." XXII