The flutter of a veil from its window caused her to change her plans. He
was not returning alone, but bringing lady visitors; therefore, she would
not go to meet him.
And no one had told her visitors were expected. She felt aggrieved, and
somehow, unreasonable as she knew it to be, she was angry at Edward's look
of interest and pleasure as he leaned from the saddle in a listening
attitude, as if hearkening to the talk of some one within the carriage.
Zoe had stepped behind a clump of bushes, whose leafy screen hid her from
the view of the approaching party, while through its interstices she could
see them very plainly.
As they drew nearer, she saw that the carriage contained two young,
pretty, ladylike girls, one of whom was talking to Edward with much
animation and earnestness, he listening with evident interest and
amusement.
When the carriage had passed her, Zoe glided away through the shrubbery,
gained the house by a circuitous route and a side entrance, and her own
rooms by a back stairway.
She fully expected to find Edward there, but he was not.
"Where can he be?" she asked herself half aloud, then sat down and waited
for him--not very patiently.
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