There was still a little rose glow in the west , and over the airy boughs of the tall poplars one or two large , bright stars were shining . The air was sweet with a hush of dreams , and the world was so lovely that I held my breath over its beauty . Then , all at once , down at the far end of the garden , I saw a woman walking . I thought at first that it must be Mary Sloane ; but , as she crossed a moonlit path , I saw it was not our old servant 's stout , homely figure . This woman was tall and erect . Although no suspicion of the truth came to me , something about her reminded me of Hester . Even so had Hester liked to wander about the garden in the twilight . I had seen her thus a thousand times . I wondered who the woman could be . Some neighbor , of course . But what a strange way for her to come ! She walked up the garden slowly in the poplar shade . Now and then she stooped , as if to caress a flower , but she plucked none . Half way up she out in to the moonlight and walked across the plot of grass in the center of the garden . My heart gave a great throb and I stood up . She was quite near to me now -- and I saw that it was Hester . I can hardly say just what my feelings were at this moment . I know that I was not surprised . I was frightened and yet I was not frightened . Something in me shrank back in a sickening terror ; but I , the real I , was not frightened .
I knew that this was my sister , and that there could be no reason why I should be XXXXX of her , because she loved me still , as she had always done .
came caress crossed erect frightened know saw say stooped surprised