Mrs. Adair was not the woman to leave her post of observation at
such a moment, and from the cover of the curtains she continued to watch
with all the curiosity of a woman in a village who draws down the blind,
that unobserved she may get a better peep at the stranger passing down
the street. Ethne and the man from the boat turned away and disappeared
amongst the trees, leaving Durrance forgotten and alone. Mrs. Adair
thought at once of that enclosure at the water's edge. The conversation
lasted for some while, and since the couple did not promptly reappear, a
question flashed into her mind. "Could the stranger be Harry Feversham?"
Ethne had no friends in this part of the world. The question pressed
upon Mrs. Adair. She longed for an answer, and of course for that
particular answer which would convict Ethne Eustace of duplicity. Her
interest grew into an excitement when she saw Durrance, tired of
waiting, follow upon Ethne's steps. But what came after was to interest
her still more.
Durrance reappeared, to her surprise alone, and came straight to the
house, up the terrace, into the drawing-room.
"Have you seen Ethne?" he asked.
"Is she not in the little garden by the water?" Mrs.
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