. But no boat came near Wreck Island.
If one had, Eleanor could almost have found courage to call for help....

In due time Mrs. Clover hunted her up, bringing a lantern to guide her
heavy footsteps.

"Lands sakes!" she cried, catching sight of the girl. "Wherever have you
been all this time?"

"Just walking up and down," said Eleanor quietly.

"Thank goodness I found you," the woman panted. "Give me quite a turn,
you did. _I_ didn't know but what you might be trying some foolish idea
about leaving us, like your pa said you might. One never knows when to
trust you nervous prostrationists, or what you'll be up to next."

Eleanor glanced at her sharply, wondering if by any chance the woman's
mind could be as guileless as her words or the bland and childish
simplicity of her eyes in the lantern-light.

"Wish you'd come up on the stoop and keep me company," continued Mrs.
Clover; "I'm plumb tired of sitting round all alone. Moon'll be up
before long; it's a purty sight, shining on the water."

"Thank you," said Eleanor; "I'm afraid I'm too tired. It must be later
than I thought. If you don't mind I'll go to my room."

"Oh, please yourself," said the woman, disappointment lending her tone
an unpleasant edge. "You'll find it hot and stuffy up there, though. If
you can't get comfortable, come down-stairs; I'll be up till the boss
gets home."

"Very well," said Eleanor.

She said good night to Mrs. Clover on the kitchen porch and going to her
room, threw herself upon the bed, dressed as she was.

For some time the woman down-stairs rocked slowly on the porch, humming
sonorously. The sound was infinitely soothing. Eleanor had some
difficulty in keeping awake, and only managed to do so by dint of
continually exciting her imagination with thoughts of the Cadogan collar
in the safe, the key in the newel-post, the dory swinging at its
moorings in water little more than waist deep....

In spite of all this, she did as the slow hours lagged drift into a
half-waking nap. How long it lasted she couldn't guess when she wakened;
but it had not been too long; a glance at the dial of her wrist-watch
in a slant of moonlight through the window reassured her as to the
flight of time. It was nearly midnight; she had three hours left, three
hours leeway before the return of her persecutor.

She lay without moving, listening attentively. The house was anything
but still; ghosts of forgotten footsteps haunted all its stairs and
cor