Autumn—scarcely late autumn yet—and the day had been mild. But asthe afternoon wore on towards evening, there came the chilliness and earlygloom inevitable at the fall of the year—accompanied, to those who aresensitive to such things, by the indescribable touch of melancholy neverpresent in the same way at other seasons.
Philippa Raynsworth shivered slightly, though half-unconscious that she did so,and turned towards the shelter of the friendly porch just at her side. As shemoved, a hand was laid on her shoulder.
“Come in, you silly girl,” said its owner. “Do you want tocatch cold?”
Philippa had been watching the gradual d