It was bright moonlight when the people came out of church , and everybody saw it plainly . Arnold Sherman stood upon the steps close to the door , and Ludovic Speed leaned up against a corner of the graveyard fence , as he had done for years . The boys said he had worn the paint off that particular place . Ludovic knew of no reason why he should paste himself up against the church door . Theodora would come out as usual , and he would join her as she went past the corner . This was what happened , Theodora came down the steps , her stately figure outlined in its darkness against the gush of lamplight from the porch . Arnold Sherman asked her if he might see her home . Theodora took his arm calmly , and together they swept past the stupefied Ludovic , who stood helplessly gazing after them as if unable to believe his eyes . For a few moments he stood there limply ; then he started down the road after his fickle lady and her new admirer . The boys and irresponsible young men crowded after , expecting some excitement , but they were disappointed . Ludovic strode on until he overtook Theodora and Arnold Sherman , and then fell meekly in behind them . Theodora hardly enjoyed her walk home , although Arnold Sherman laid himself out to be especially entertaining . Her heart yearned after Ludovic , whose shuffling footsteps she heard behind her . She feared that she had been very cruel , but she was in for it now . She steeled herself by the reflection that it was all for his own good , and she talked to Arnold Sherman as if he were the one man in the world . Poor , deserted Ludovic , following humbly behind , heard her , and if Theodora had known how bitter the cup she was holding to his lips really was , she would never have been resolute enough to present it , no matter for what ultimate good . When she and Arnold turned in at her gate , Ludovic had to stop . Theodora looked over her shoulder and saw him standing still on the road . His forlorn figure haunted her thoughts all night . If Anne had not run over the next day and bolstered up her convictions , she might have spoiled everything by prematurely relenting .
Ludovic , meanwhile , stood still on the road , quite oblivious to the hoots and comments XXXXX the vastly amused small boy contingent , until Theodora and his rival disappeared from his view under the firs in the hollow of her lane .
For as behind by if in of off to upon