THE SOD ON THE PANE
He knew well enough that Ferrier would not follow him then and there. If he had supposed that he would have been nervous enough. The man could not tell Mrs. Rader more about himself and Blanche than she already knew or suspected; but he might put the business in an ugly light to her; considering his caliber and his state of mind he might say anything, and who could tell if Mrs. Rader might not believe him? As usual, at a crisis, Carron was without premeditated thought—but a series of decisions were born in his mind and produced immediate action. He walked rapidly, amusement still overflowing his eyes at the idea of Mrs. Rader as an avenging deity, one of whom Blanche would be in terror. Ferrier had been impertinent to the last degree; yet it was strange the way he could rouse no feeling but a sort of pity; and upon this occasion Carron was aware of a warmer and more positive feeling toward him—gratitude! Instead of hindering, the man had given him a push in the right direction. That morning Carron had been fancying the past and finding Blanche there. Now he had had a sharp impetus forward to the edge of the future. He looked into it rejoicing, seeing an actual world.
Reaching the house he found a check to the immediateness of his resolution. Mrs. Rader had one of her fainting attacks and Blanche was up-stairs
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