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himself that it was an instinct of caution。
The air was quieter and warmer than usual； though still
characteristic of the locality in its dry； dewless clarity。 The
grass was yet warm from the day…long sun； and when he entered the
pines that surrounded the schoolhouse； they had scarcely yet lost
their spicy heat。 The moon； riding high； filled the dark aisles
with a delicious twilight that lent itself to his waking dreams。
It was not long before to…morrow； he could easily manage to bring
her here in the grove at recess； and would speak with her there。
It did not occur to him what he should say； or why he should say
it； it did not occur to him that he had no other provocation than
her eyes； her conscious manner； her eloquent silence； and her
admission that she had expected him。 It did not occur to him that
all this was inconsistent with what he knew of her antecedents； her
character； and her habits。 It was this very inconsistency that
charmed and convinced him。 We are always on the lookout for these
miracles of passion。 We may doubt the genuineness of an affection
that is first…hand； but never of one that is transferred。
He approached the school…house and unlocking the door closed it
behind him； not so much to keep out human intrusion as the invasion
of bats and squirrels。 The nearly vertical moon； while it
perfectly lit the playground and openings in the pines around the
house； left the interior in darkness； except the reflection upon
the ceiling from the shining gravel without。 Partly from a sense
of precaution and partly because he was familiar with the position
of the benches； he did not strike a light； and reached his own desk
unerringly； drew his chair before it and unlocked it； groped in its
dark recess for the myrtle spray； felt its soft silken binding with
an electrical thrill； drew it out； and in the security of the
darkness； raised it to his lips。
To make room for it in his breast pocket he was obliged to take out
his lettersamong them the well…worn one he had tried to read that
morning。 A mingling of pleasure and remorse came over him as he
felt that it was already of the past； and as he dropped it
carelessly into the empty desk it fell with a faint； hollow sound
as if it were ashes to ashes。
What was that？
The noise of steps upon the gravel； light laughter； the moving of
two or three shadows on the ceiling； the sound of voices； a man's；
a child's； and HERS！
Could it be possible？ Was not he mistaken？ No！ the man's voice
was Masters'； the child's； Octavia's； the woman's； HERS。
He remained silent in the shadow。 The school…room was not far from
the trail where she would have had to pass going home from the
ball。 But why had she come there？ had they seen him arrive？ and
were mischievously watching him？ The sound of Cressy's voice and
the lifting of the unprotected window near the door convinced him
to the contrary。
〃There； that'll do。 Now you two can step aside。 'Tave； take him
over to yon fence； and keep him there till I get in。 Nothank
you； sirI can assist myself。 I've done it before。 It ain't the
first time I've been through this window； is it； 'Tave？〃
Ford's heart stopped beating。 There was a moment of laughing
expostulation； the sound of retreating voices； the sudden darkening
of the window； the billowy sweep of a skirt； the faint quick flash
of a little ankle； and Cressy McKinstry swung herself into the room
and dropped lightly on the floor。
She advanced eagerly up the moonlit passage between the two rows of
benches。 Suddenly she stopped； the master rose at the same moment
with outstretched warning hand to check the cry of terror he felt
sure would rise to her lips。 But he did not know the lazy nerves
of the girl before him。 She uttered no outcry。 And even in the
faint dim light he could see only the same expression of conscious
understanding come over her face that he had seen in the ball…room；
mingled with a vague joy that parted her breathless lips。 As he
moved quickly forward their hands met； she caught his with a quick
significant pressure and darted back to the window。
〃Oh； 'Tave！〃 （very languidly。）
〃Yes。〃
〃You two had better wait for me at the edge of the trail yonder；
and keep a lookout for folks going by。 Don't let them see you
hanging round so near。 Do you hear？ I'm all right。〃
With her hand still meaningly lifted； she stood gazing at the two
figures until they slowly receded towards the distant trail。 Then
she turned as he approached her； the reflection of the moonlit road
striking up into her shining eyes and eager waiting face。 A dozen
questions were upon his lips； a dozen replies were ready upon hers。
But they were never uttered； for the next moment her eyes half
closed； she leaned forward and fellinto a kiss。
She was the first to recover； holding his face in her hands； turned
towards the moonlight； her own in passionate shadow。 〃Listen；〃 she
said quickly。 〃They think I came here to look for something I left
in my desk。 They thought it high fun to come with methese two。
I did come to look for somethingnot in my desk； but yours。〃
〃Was it this？〃 he whispered； taking the myrtle from his breast。
She seized it with a light cry； putting it first to her lips and
then to his。 Then clasping his face again between her soft palms；
she turned it to the window and said： 〃Look at them and not at me。〃
He did soseeing the two figures slowly walking in the trail。 And
holding her there firmly against his breast； it seemed a blasphemy
to ask the question that had been upon his lips。
〃That's not all；〃 she murmured； moving his face backwards and
forwards to her lips as if it were something to which she was
giving breath。 〃When we came to the woods I felt that you would be
here。〃
〃And feeling that； you brought HIM？〃 said Ford； drawing back。
〃Why not？〃 she replied indolently。 〃Even if he had seen you； I
could have managed to have you walk home with me。〃
〃But do you think it's quite fair？ Would he like it？〃
〃Would HE like it？〃 she echoed lazily。
〃Cressy；〃 said the young man earnestly； gazing into her shadowed
face。 〃Have you given him any right to object？ Do you understand
me？〃
She stopped as if thinking。 〃Do you want me to call him in？〃 she
said quietly； but without the least trace of archness or coquetry。
〃Would you rather he were hereor shall we go out now and meet
him？ I'll say you just came as I was going out。〃
What should he say？ 〃Cressy；〃 he asked almost curtly； 〃do you love
me？〃
It seemed such a ridiculous thing to ask； holding her thus in his
arms； if it were true； it seemed such a villainous question； if it
were not。
〃I think I loved you when you first came；〃 she said slowly。 〃It
must have been that that made me engage myself to him；〃 she added
simply。 〃I knew I loved you； and thought only of you when I was
away。 I came back bec