The garden had been deserted for a quarter of a century. Only a few lone blossoms managed to rise above the weeds throughout several summers. Frail ghosts of dead flowers were released from milkweed and thistles at night. As always, Miss Evelina Grey felt the icy, iron hand clutching her heart mercilessly as she awakened. She resembled some ethereal, disembodied kind of grief in her frailty. Anthony Dexter took his time getting ready and kept having the nagging sensation that something terrible had happened. Finally, he recalled that he had seen a ghost on the grounds of Evelina Grey's old home shortly before dark. He was silently surprised by a spirit carrying something he had forgotten long ago. Ralph Dexter was accused of the long-forgotten atrocities the village's young boys committed. Miss Mehitable brought the record up to the point at which he departed Rushton for college after receiving entrance preparation from his father. Nothing could be done since he was unable to lash out at his own father with his hand. Ralph had no idea that his father had observed his expression. Now he understood why Miss Evelina had declined to provide him with the man's name. When she begged him to leave her, he was also aware of the heinous temptation she was battling.
