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and was very unwell； and Ella hardly stirred from her side all day。
Even when Clive called in the afternoon she would not come down；
but sent instead a message begging to be excused because of her
mother's indisposition； and Dunn； from a secure spot in the garden；
watched the young man retire； looking very disconsolate。
This day； too； Dunn saw nothing of Deede Dawson； for that gentleman
immediately after breakfast disappeared without saying anything to
anybody； and by night had still not returned。
Dunn therefore was left entirely to himself； and to him the day
seemed one of the longest he had ever spent。
That Ella remained so persistently with her mother troubled him a
good deal； for he did not think such close seclusion on her part
could be really necessary。
He was inclined to fear that Ella had overheard enough of what had
passed between him and Deede Dawson to rouse her mistrust； and that
she was therefore deliberately keeping out of his way。
Then too； he was troubled in another fashion by Deede Dawson's
absence； for he was afraid it might mean that plans were being
prepared； or possibly action being taken； that might mature
disastrously before he himself was ready to act。
All day this feeling of unrest and apprehension continued； and at
night when he went upstairs to bed it was stronger than ever。 He
felt convinced now that Ella was deliberately avoiding him。 But
then； if she distrusted him； that must be because she feared he
was on her stepfather's side； and if it seemed to her that who was
on his side was of necessity an object of suspicion to herself； then
there could be no such bond of dread and guilt between them as any
guilty knowledge on her part of Wright's death would involve。
The substantial proof this exercise in logic appeared to afford of
Ella's innocence brought him much comfort； but did not lighten his
sense of apprehension and unrest； for he thought that in this
situation in which he found himself his doubts of Ella had merely
been turned into doubts on Ella's part of himself； and that the one
was just as likely as the other to end disastrously。
〃Though I don't know what I can do；〃 he muttered as he stood in his
attic； 〃if I gain Deede Dawson's confidence I lose Ella's； and if
I win Ella's； Deede Dawson will at once suspect me。〃
He w I over to the window and looked out； supporting himself on his
elbows； and gazing moodily into the darkness。
As he stood there a faint sound came softly to his ear through the
stillness of the quiet night in which nothing stirred。
He listened； and heard it again。 Beyond doubt some one was stirring
in the garden below； moving about there very cautiously and carefully；
and at once Dunn glided from the room and down the stairs with all
that extraordinary lightness of tread and agility of movement of
which his heavy body and clumsy…looking build gave so small promise。
He had not been living so many days in the house without having
taken certain precautions； of which one had been to secure for
himself a swift and silent egress whenever necessity might arise。
Keys to both the front and back doors were in his possession； and
the passage window on the ground floor he could at need lift
bodily from its frame； leaving ample room for passage either in
or out。 This was the method of departure he chose now since he
did not know but that the doors might be watched。
Lifting the window down； he swung himself outside； replacing behind
him the window so that it appeared to be as firmly in position as
ever； but could be removed again almost instantly should need arise。
Once outside he listened again； and though at first everything was
quiet； presently he heard again a cautious step going to and fro
at a little distance。
Crouching in the shadow of the house； he listened intently； and
soon was able to assure himself that there was but one footstep
and that he would have only one individual to deal with。
〃It won't be Deede Dawson's；〃 he thought to himself； 〃but it may
very likely be some one waiting for him to return。 I must find out
who … and why。〃
Slipping through the darkness of the night； with whose shadows he
seemed to melt and mingle； as though he were but another one of
them； he moved quickly in the direction of these cautious footsteps
he had listened to。
They had ceased now； and the silence was profound； for those faint
multitudinous noises of the night that murmur without ceasing in
the woods and fields are less noticeable near the habitations of men。
A little puzzled； Dunn paused to listen again and once more crept
forward a careful yard or two； and then lay still； feeling it would
not be safe to venture further till he was more sure of his
direction； and till some fresh sound to guide him reached his ears。
He had not long to wait； for very soon； from quite close by； he
heard something that surprised and perplexed him equally … a deep；
long…drawn sigh。
Again he heard it； and in utter wonder asked himself who this
could be who came into another person's garden late at night to
stand and sigh； and what such a proceeding could mean。
Once more he heard the sigh； deeper even than before； and then after
it a low murmur in which at first he could distinguish nothing； but
then caught the name of Ella being whispered over and over again。
He bent forward； more and more puzzled； trying in vain to make out
something in the darkness； and then from under a tree； whose shadow
had hitherto been a complete concealment； there moved forward a form
so tall and bulky there could be little doubt whom it belonged to。
〃John Clive … what on earth … ！〃 Dunn muttered； his bewilderment
increasing； and the next moment he understood and had some difficulty
in preventing himself from bursting out laughing as there reached
him the unmistakable sound of a kiss lightly blown through the air。
Clive was sending a kiss through the night towards Ella's room and
his nocturnal visit was nothing more than the whim of a love…sick
youth。
With Dunn； his first amusement gave way almost at once to an extreme
annoyance。
For； in the first place； these proceedings seemed to him exceedingly
impertinent； for what possible right did Clive imagine he had to
come playing the fool like this； sighing in the dark and blowing
kisses like a baby to its mammy？
And secondly； unless he were greatly mistaken； John Clive might just
as sensibly and safely have dropped overboard from a ship in
mid…Atlantic for a swim as come to indulge his sentimentalities in
the Bittermeads garden at night。
〃You silly ass！〃 he said in a voice that was very low； but very
distinct and very full of an extreme disgust and anger。
Clive fairly leaped in the air with his surprise； and turned and
made a sudden dash at the spot whence Dunn's voice had come； but
where Dunn no longer was。
〃What the blazes …？〃 he began； spluttering in ineffectual rage。
〃You … you …！〃
〃You silly ass！〃 Dunn repeated； no less emphatically than before。
Clive made another rush that a somewhat prickly bush very
effectually stopped。
〃You … who are you … where … what … how dare you？〃 he gasped
as he picked himse