I
held my breath, and did not dare to move while this suspense lasted.
Would he never move on? I asked myself. How foolish I was to have
waited there at all? I felt tempted to make one bound and spring up
the garden-steps, but I had not courage enough even for this.
While I was busy with these thoughts, the interesting figure receded
to the outer end of the sidewalk and scanned the upper portion of the
house eagerly. I then heard him mutter an impatient "Pshaw!" under his
breath, and he turned to walk away.
All my deserted courage rushed back to me the instant I saw him moving
from me. I sprang from my hiding-place, and leaning my arms upon the
bars of the gate as before, I said timidly:
"Who is that?"
The figure halted suddenly and turned around. In a moment he was
standing beside me with his hat in one hand, the other extended
towards me.
"Why, Dr Campbell, can this be _you_?" I cried in slow bewilderment.
"Yes, Miss Hampden, it is I" he answered nervously, "Are you glad to
see me?"
"Glad" I repeated, half reproachfully, "why should I not be glad? I am
delighted to see you. Won't you come in" I asked, making a movement to
open the gate.
"I have just been to the house, asking for you," he said. "They told
me you had gone out to dine, and they could not say exactly when you
would come back. I have only to-day to spend in the town, and was
feeling quite disappointed at not finding you at home, when the
clashing of the gate arrested my attention.
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