I closed his door softly, and walked out into the garden, across the lawn to the edge. Below me was the little plantation, ill-famed and suddenly notorious as the scene of that terrible tragedy. Every tree seemed clearly defined and beautiful in that soft autumn twilight. I looked at it with a curious sense of shuddering fear. That girl’s face, hungry for vengeance, the code of blood for blood--it was terrible. But the vengeance of God--more awful, if not so swift as hers--on whom was that to fall? A heavy step in the road brought me, with a little sense of relief, back to the present. The tall form of Mr. Bruce Deville came in sight. He passed so close to me that I could have touched him. “Good night, Mr. Deville,” I said, softly, in his ear. He started almost over to the other side of the road. Then he saw me, and lifted his cap. “Good God!” he exclaimed. “I beg your pardon, Miss Ffolliot. How you startled me!” “I am very sorry,” I said, penitently. He looked at me and laughed. “You may be,” he said; “but you don’t look it. I am glad that you are better.” “I am quite well, thank you,” I answered. “I am glad to see you, Mr. Deville. I wanted to thank you for those beautiful roses. I could not believe that they came from you.” He looked a little embarrassed. “They are not worth mentioning,” he muttered. “Besides, it was Adelaide’s idea. She thought that you would like them.” I felt a little needlessly disappointed. Doubtless I answered him a little coldly. “I must thank Mrs. Fortress for them, then! Very well; I will go down and see her to-morrow.” “I don’t think,” he said, with a slight twinkle in his eyes, “that you need go down specially. Mrs. Fortress only answered my question when I asked her if she thought that you would care for them.” “Oh, is that all?” I remarked. “Entirely,” he answered. “At the same time, if you have any time to spare I daresay Mrs. Fortress would be glad to see you if you went down.” “Do you think she would, really?” I asked. “You know the first time I was there, something a little unpleasant happened in connection with my father. I took a great fancy to her, and I would like to go and see her again, but I am not sure whether she wants me. I fancy she was very surprised at my visit the other night.” “I am perfectly certain,” he declared, confidently, “that she would be glad to see you any time you chose to go to her. You may take my word for that.” “I think I will go to-morrow, then,” I said. “Mrs. Fortress interests me very much. There is no one else round here like her.” “You are very friendly with my godmamma, are you not?” he said, with a faint smile at the corners of his lips. “Lady Naselton has been very kind to me,” I answered. “I am afraid she gives me a dreadful character, doesn’t she?” he asked. “If she does you probably deserve it,” I said, severely. “I fancy that I have heard her say that you are exceedingly shiftless and very lazy. You could scarcely deny that, could you?”