I rapped gently. In a moment, Hugh opened it. Then that
happened by which, in after days, I was to know that this strange
thing was no dream or fancy of mine. Hugh looked not at me, but
past me.

"Hester!" he exclaimed, with human fear and horror in his voice.

He leaned against the door-post, the big, strong fellow,
trembling from head to foot.

"I have learned," said Hester, "that nothing matters in all God's
universe, except love. There is no pride where I have been, and
no false ideals."

Hugh and I looked into each other's eyes, wondering, and then we
knew that we were alone.



VIII. THE LITTLE BROWN BOOK OF MISS EMILY

The first summer Mr. Irving and Miss Lavendar--Diana and I could
never call her anything else, even after she was married--were at
Echo Lodge after their marriage, both Diana and I spent a great
deal of time with them. We became acquainted with many of the
Grafton people whom we had not known before, and among others,
the family of Mr. Mack Leith. We often went up to the Leiths in
the evening to play croquet. Millie and Margaret Leith were very
nice girls, and the boys were nice, too. Indeed, we liked every
one in the family, except poor old Miss Emily Leith. We tried