THE WINDOW OF THE SPHINX
forth against antagonists; for, gentle as they were, they seemed all to be against him. Nevertheless, he turned into the loop of the drive with that mixed sense of familiarity and strangeness that one feels, after an absence, upon returning home. The pale, austere front of the house was more welcome to him than ever the classic aspect of his mother's house in Greenwich. This impression of homelikeness was added to by the sight of an expectant figure. It was revealed as that of the scholar. He was moving rather restlessly along the porch of the old wing, now and then stretching his head on his long neck to look out between the vines.
Seeing Carron, his face relaxed into a smile. He raised his hand above his head, in joyful salute, and hurried to the steps, as the young man rode up. "My dear boy, we have been wondering—why, I'm very glad to see you! The women have been quite frightened."
"Frightened?" Carron echoed, feeling mystified.
"Yes, your not coming back last night. Of course, I told them you were all right. Two days, more or less, is nothing—and a man can't send a note out of the wilderness. Still women, you know!" He expressively waved his hand. "Mrs. Rader has gone down to the Ferriers now, to see if perhaps they had heard anything of you."
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