The things we do!

She leaned out of
the window. Catching at the coarse ivy vine which climbed up the
old wall of the house, she saw that it ascended past her window to
the very cornice where the white pillars joined the roof. The
pillars themselves, vast and smooth, would have been useless even
could she have reached them. Below, a slender lattice or ladder
had been erected to the height of one story, to give the ivy its
support. A strong and active person might by mere possibility
reach this frail support if the ivy itself proved strong enough to
hold under the strain. She clutched at it desperately. It seemed
to her that although the smaller tendrils loosened, the greater
arms held firm.
She stepped back into the room, listened, straining all her soul in
a demand for certitude. As yet she had only dreaded to hear a
sound, had not indeed done so. Now at last there came a
footfall--was it true? It seemed not heavy enough for a man's
step, but a man on secret errand might tread light.


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