Thishadneveroccurredbefore。Hehadgivenstrictorders，backedbyhisbrother’sauthority，thathewasnevertobeintrudeduponwheninthisplace；andthoughhehadsometimesencounteredthepryingeyesofthecuriousflashingfrombehindthetreesencirclingthehangar，hisdoorhadneverbeenapproachedbefore，orhisprivacyencroachedupon。Hestartedthen，whenthislowbutpenetratingsoundstruckacrosstheturmoilofhisthoughts，andcastonelookinthedirectionfromwhichitcame；buthedidnotrise，orevenchangehispositiononhisworkman’sstool。
Thenitcameagain，stilllowbutwithaninsistencewhichdrewhisbrowstogetherandmadehishandfallfromthewirehehadbeenunconsciouslyholdingthroughthementaldebatewhichwasabsorbinghim。Stillhemadenoresponse，andtheknockingcontinued。Shouldheignoreitentirely，startuphismotorandrenderhimselfoblivioustoallothersounds?Ateveryotherpointinhiscareerhewouldhavedonethis，butanunknown，andasyetunnamed，somethinghadenteredhisheartduringthisfatalmonth，whichmadeoldwaysimpossibleandoblivionathinghedarednotcourttoorecklessly。ShouldthisbeasummonsfromDoris！Shouldinconceivableidea，yetitseizeduponhimrelentlesslyandwouldnotyieldfortheaskingshoulditbeDorisherself！
Takingadvantageofamomentarycessationoftheceaselesstaptap，helistened。Silencewasneverprofounderthaninthisforestonthatwindlessnight。Earthandairseemed，tohisstrainedear，emptiedofallsound。Theclatterofhisownsteady，unhastenedheart-beatwasallthatbrokeuponthestillness。HemightbealoneintheUniverseforalltokenoflifebeyondthesewalls，orsohewassayingtohimself，whensharp，quick，sinister，theknockingrecommenced，demandingadmission，insistinguponattention，drawinghimagainsthisownwilltohisfeet，andfinally，thoughhemademorethanonestandagainstit，totheverydoor。”Who’sthere?”heasked，imperiouslyandwithsomeshowofanger。
Noanswer，butanotherquietknock。”Speak！orgofrommydoor。Noonehastherighttointrudehere。
Whatisyournameandbusiness?”