He began to run stealthily and on tiptoe, keeping close to the wall. There was never any telling--someone might come round a corner suddenly and take him unawares. As he passed Professor Usk's house, he thought for a moment of Glory. In one of those prim rooms she was lying safe in bed--she and Riska. He'd seen Riska laughing with Hardcastle on the barge. Who the dickens had introduced her? She was quite capable of having introduced herself. Then he forgot everything and everyone but Cherry and the purpose of his errand. He came out on to High Street, flowing in a slow curve past churches and ancient doorways. As he went by All Souls he had the sense of still gardens and cool turf, lying steeped in moonlight. He wanted to laugh, wanted to shout to the silent city that he would soon be talking with her. He turned down by Hell Passage and dived under an archway into a little court, where a lamp smoldered in an iron bracket and echoes played hide-and-seek behind his footsteps. There was an uncared for garden. In one corner stood a public house, with all the lights extinguished. Along one side, hugging the wall of a low-roofed house, ran the narrow path. He stepped back and looked up at the windows; that must be hers to the left. He whispered her name, “Cherry. Cherry.” Was she awake? He fancied that he heard her stir. He picked up some earth and threw it against the panes. He had startled her; something creaked, as though she sat up sharply. “Don't be frightened. It's Peter,” he called beneath his breath. She was coming. Soon she would look out. He saw her, leaning down on him, white clad, with her dark hair falling all about her face. “I couldn't stop away any longer, Cherry. I had to come to you. I want you to promise that you'll be here to-morrow. When I asked you before you only said, 'Perhaps.' Only perhaps, Cherry, after a year of waiting! Promise me, 'Yes.'” Was she laughing? Was she angry? He was whispering to her again. “They'd locked all the doors. I was afraid that I'd never get out. I climbed down, when everyone was in bed. I had to come to you.” “Oh, Peter, Peter!” She wasn't cross with him. She was laughing. “You're so persistent. It took you to do that.” Silence again. “But promise,” he urged. He wished that he might see her clearly. They had called her Cherry because her lips were red. “But promise. Won't you say 'Yes'?” Her answer came so that he could scarcely hear it. “If I promise, will you go now?” He nodded like a child, to give emphasis. “Then yes--but only if you go now at once.” She waited to see him start. He turned away reluctantly. As he entered the shadow of the archway he thought she kissed her hand. CHAPTER XXXIX--ON THE RIVER But had she? Had she kissed her hand? And, if she had, did it mean anything?