"But, to go back,--I stood it as long as I could, and then,--I turned from him, disowned him, bade him leave the house at once and never see my face again, and informed him that I myself would abandon the place on the morrow, and return to the South. He left me, without another word, and went to his room. I immediately summoned the servants and dismissed them on the spot, giving them only time to get their things together and go. Then I locked myself in my room till--he was gone. He came several times, knocked at my door, and begged me to see him, but I would not. Heaven forgive me!-- I would not! So he must have left me--that note!" She covered her eyes with her hand a moment. Then she went on: "I never saw or knew of it till this day. If I had--" Just at this point, they were all startled by a loud knock, coming from the direction of the front door. So unexpected was the sound that they could only stare at each other inquiringly without stirring. In a moment it came again,--a thumping of the old knocker on the front inner door. "I guess I'd better go," said Joyce. "Some one may have seen the little boarded-up door open-- _Did_ you leave it open?" she asked, turning to Mrs. Collingwood. "I think I did. I was too hurried and nervous, when I came in, to think of it." "That's it, then. Some one has seen it open, and has stopped to inquire if everything is all right." She hurried away to the front door, and, after an effort, succeeded in pulling it open. A man--a complete stranger to her--stood outside. They regarded each other with mutual surprise. "Pardon me!" he said. "But perhaps you can inform me--is any one living in this house at present?" "Why, no!" replied Joyce, rather confusedly. "That is--no, the house is empty, except just--just to-day!" "Oh! er--I see! The fact is," the stranger went on, "I was passing here and noticed this outer door open, which seemed a little queer. I used to know the people who lived here--very well indeed--and I have been wondering whether the house was still in their possession. It seemed to be untenanted." At his mention of knowing the family, Joyce looked him over with considerably more interest. He was tall, straight and robust, though rather verging on the elderly. His iron-gray hair was crisply curly, and his dark eyes twinkled out from under bushy gray brows. His smile was captivating. Joyce decided at once that she liked him. "Oh! did you know the family, the--the--" "Collingwoods!" he supplemented, with his twinkling smile. "Yes, I knew them--quite intimately. Might I, perhaps, if it would not be intruding, come in just a moment to look once more at the old place? That is," he added hastily, seeing her hesitate, "only if it would be entirely convenient! I do not know, of course, why the house is open. Perhaps people are--are about to purchase it."