The Black Swans 



night was quite unbroken. While I 

 had not been positive, yet I would 

 have sworn that I had heard in almost 

 whispered accents the one woid 

 "Kate!" 



The sound that I had thus inter- 

 preted had rather startled me, be- 

 cause it was a signal that I clearly 

 understood; one that had to me a very 

 definite meaning if it had really been 

 given. In fact, it was to mark a very 

 important episode in the season's hap- 

 penings. The only question was had 

 the word actually been pronounced 

 or had my imagination only deceived 

 me. This I was inclined to believe 

 had been the case, for the tones em- 

 ployed had been very weak and seemed 

 to come from far away. I reported the 

 incident to Billy, and asked her if she 

 had heard it, but she had not, so I 

 said: 



"Well, at this same hour tomorrow 

 night we will know for certain, for if 

 I heard that which I am not at all 

 [62I 



