was flown; but it was plain to see that
he had recovered full possession of himself, though he was still much
agitated. Reuben went away in silence, and Ezra continued to pace the
room for an hour. His house-keeper appeared to tell him that breakfast
was on the table, but though he answered in his customary manner he took
no further notice. She came again to tell him with a voice of complaint
that everything was cold and spoiled.

"Well, well, woman," said Ezra, "leave it theer."

He went on walking up and down, until, without any acceleration of his
pace, he changed the direction of his walk and passed out at the door,
feeling in the darkened little passage for his hat.

"You sha'n't goo out wi' nothing on your stomach," said the servant, who
had been watching and waiting to see what he would do. Ezra, to satisfy
her, poured out and drank a cup of coffee, and then walked out into the
street, bending his steps in the direction of Rachel's cottage. Twice on
the way he paused and half drew from his waistcoat-pocket the yellow
old note which had so long lingered on its way to him, but each time he
returned it without looking at it, and walked on again.

He stood for a moment at the wicket-gate, and then opening it passed
through, suffering it to fall with a clatter behind him. His hand
trembled strangely as he lifted it to the door, and he knocked with
a tremulous loudness. When he had waited for a time he heard Rachel's
footsteps tapping on the oil-cloth of the passage which divided her toy
sitting-room from her bandbox of a parlor. His gray face went a shade
grayer, and he cleared his throat nervously, with the tips of his thin
fingers at his month. He heard the rattling of the door-chain, but
it seemed rather as if it were being put up than taken down, and this
suspicion was confirmed when it was opened with a little jar and stopped
short at the confines of the chain. Rachel's face looked round the edge
of the door. He had time to speak but a single word--"Rachel!"

The door was vigorously slammed in his face, and he heard the emphatic
tapping of footsteps as she retired. He stood for a minute irresolute,
and then, quitting the porch, walked round the thread of gravelled
foot-path which led to the back of the cottage. He had but rounded the
corner of the building when the back door closed with a clang, and he
heard the bolts shot. Next, while he still stood irresolute, he saw
Rachel approach a window and vigorously