As he slowly stood up , the low-hanging bough of a fir tree pushed his cap down over his face and blinded him . When he snatched it off , she was gone . * * * * * Roger Temple did not go home that night till the spring dawn was in the sky . Catherine was sleepless with anxiety about him . When she heard him come up the stairs , she opened her door and peeped out . Roger went along the hall without seeing her . His brilliant eyes stared straight before him , and there was something in his face that made Catherine steal back to her bed with a little shiver of fear . He looked like his uncle . She did not ask him , when they met at breakfast , where or how he had spent the night . He had been dreading the question and was relieved beyond measure when it was not asked . But , apart from that , he was hardly conscious of her presence . He ate and drank mechanically and voicelessly . When he had gone out , Catherine wagged her uncomely grey head ominously . `` He 's bewitched , '' she muttered . `` I know the signs . He 's seen her -- drat her ! It 's time she gave up that kind of work . Well , I dunno what to do -- thar ai n't anything I can do , I reckon . He 'll never marry now -- I 'm as sure of that as of any mortal thing . He 's in love with a ghost . ''
It had not yet occurred to XXXXX that he was in love .
Catherine Roger Temple breakfast fear love night presence signs something