Kate was quick to observe the change in Walcott's manner and to note the
malignity lurking in the half-closed eyes whenever they encountered her
own or her father's gaze, and, while saying nothing to excite or worry
the latter, redoubled her vigilance, seldom leaving him alone.
Affairs had reached this state when, with the early spring days, Mr.
Britton returned from the East and stopped for a brief visit at The
Pines. In a few days he divined enough of the situation to lead him to
suspect that danger of some kind threatened his old friend. A hint from
Kate confirmed his suspicion, and he resolved to prolong his stay and
await developments.
One afternoon soon after his arrival Kate, returning from a walk, while
passing up the driveway met a woman coming from The Pines. The latter
was tall, dressed in black, and closely veiled,--a stranger,--yet
something in her appearance seemed familiar. Suddenly Kate recalled the
"Señora" who sent the summons to Walcott on that day set for their
marriage, more than a year before. Though she had caught only a brief
glimpse of the black-robed and veiled figure within the carriage, she
remembered a peculiarly graceful poise of the head as she had leaned
forward for a final word with Walcott, and by that she identified the
woman now approaching her. Each regarded the other closely as they met.
To Kate it seemed as though the woman hesitated for the fraction of a
second, as though about to speak, but she passed on silently. On
reaching a turn in the driveway Kate, looking back, saw the woman
standing near the large gates watching her, but the latter, finding
herself observed, passed through the gates to the street and walked
away.
Perplexed and somewhat annoyed, Kate proceeded on her way to the house.
She believed the woman to be in some way associated with Walcott, and
that her presence there presaged evil of some sort. As she entered the
sitting-room her aunt looked up with a smile from her seat before the
fire.
"You have just had rather a remarkable caller, Katherine."
"That woman in black whom I just met?" Kate asked, betraying no
surprise, for she felt none; she was prepared at that moment for almost
any announcement.
"Who was she, Aunt Marcia? and what did she want with me?"
"She refused to give her name, but said to tell you 'a friend' called.
She seemed disappointed at not seeing you, and as she was leaving she
said, 'Say to her she has a friend where she least thinks it, and if
she, or any one she loves, is in danger, I will come and warn her.' She
was very quiet-appearing, notwithstanding her tragic language. You say
you met her; what do you think of her?"