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I should be still more unfair if I didn't tell you what I honestly
believe； that at your age you are apt to deceive yourself； and；
without knowing it； to deceive others。 You confess you have not
yet decided upon your career； and you are always looking forward so
hopefully； dear Jack； for a change in the future； but you are
willing to believe that far more serious things than that will
suffer no change in the mean time。 If we continued as we were； I；
who am older than you and have more experience； might learn the
misery of seeing you change towards ME as I have changed towards
another； and for the same reason。 If I were sure I could keep pace
with you in your dreams and your ambition； if I were sure that I
always knew WHAT they were； we might still be happybut I am not
sure； and I dare not again risk my happiness on an uncertainty。 In
coming to my present resolution I do not look for happiness； but at
least I know I shall not suffer disappointment； nor involve others
in it。 I confess I am growing too old not to feel the value to a
womana necessity to her in this countryof security in her
present and future position。 Another can give me that。 And
although you may call this a selfish view of our relations； I
believe that you will soonif you do not； even as you read this
nowfeel the justice of it； and thank me for taking it。〃
With a smile of scorn he tore up the letter； in what he fondly
believed was the bitterness of an outraged trustful nature；
forgetting that for many weeks he had scarcely thought of its
writer； and that he himself in his conduct had already anticipated
its truths。
CHAPTER XII。
The master awoke the next morning； albeit after a restless night；
with that clarity of conscience and perception which it is to be
feared is more often the consequence of youth and a perfect
circulation than of any moral conviction or integrity。 He argued
with himself that as the only party really aggrieved in the
incident of the previous night； the right of remedy remained with
him solely； and under the benign influence of an early breakfast
and the fresh morning air he was inclined to feel less sternly even
towards Seth Davis。 In any event； he must first carefully weigh
the evidence against him； and examine the scene of the outrage
closely。 For this purpose； he had started for the school…house
fully an hour before his usual time。 He was even light…hearted
enough to recognize the humorous aspect of Uncle Ben's appeal to
him； and his own ludicrously paradoxical attitude； and as he at
last passed from the dreary flat into the fringe of upland pines；
he was smiling。 Well for him； perhaps； that he was no more
affected by any premonition of the day before him than the lately
awakened birds that lightly cut the still sleeping woods around him
in their long flashing sabre…curves of flight。 A yellow…throat；
destined to become the breakfast of a lazy hawk still swinging
above the river； was especially moved to such a causeless and
idiotic roulade of mirth that the master listening to the foolish
bird was fain to whistle too。 He presently stopped； however； with
a slight embarrassment。 For a few paces before him Cressy had
unexpectedly appeared。
She had evidently been watching for him。 But not with her usual
indolent confidence。 There was a strained look of the muscles of
her mouth； as of some past repression； and a shaded hollow under
her temples beneath the blonde rings of her shorter hair。 Her
habitually slow； steady eye was troubled； and she cast a furtive
glance around her before she searched him with her glance。 Without
knowing why； yet vaguely fearing that he did； he became still more
embarrassed； and in the very egotism of awkwardness； stammered
without a further salutation： 〃A disgraceful thing has happened
last night； and I'm up early to find the perpetrator。 My desk was
broken into； and〃
〃I know it；〃 she interrupted； with a half…impatient； half uneasy
putting away of the subject with her little hand〃theredon't go
all over it again。 Paw and Maw have been at me about it all night
ever since those Harrisons in their anxiousness to make up their
quarrel； rushed over with the news。 I'm tired of it！〃
For an instant he was staggered。 How much had she learned！ With
the same awkward indirectness； he said vaguely； 〃But it might have
been YOUR letters； you know？〃
〃But it wasn't；〃 she said； simply。 〃It OUGHT to have been。 I wish
it had〃 She stopped； and again regarded him with a strange
expression。 〃Well；〃 she said slowly； 〃what are you going to do？〃
〃To find out the scoundrel who has done this；〃 he said firmly； 〃and
punish him as he deserves。〃
The almost imperceptible shrug that had raised her shoulders gave
way as she regarded him with a look of wearied compassion。
〃No；〃 she said； gravely； 〃you cannot。 They're too many for you。
You must go away； at once。〃
〃Never；〃 he said indignantly。 〃Even if it were not a cowardice。
It would be morea confession！〃
〃Not more than they already know；〃 she said wearily。 〃But； I tell
you； you MUST go。 I have sneaked out of the house and run here all
the way to warn you。 If youyou care for me； Jackyou will go。〃
〃I should be a traitor to you if I did；〃 he said quickly。 〃I shall
stay。〃
〃But ififJackif〃she drew nearer him with a new…found
timidity； and then suddenly placed her two hands upon his
shoulders： 〃IfifJackI were to go with you？〃
The old rapt； eager look of possession had come back to her face
now； her lips were softly parted。 Yet even then she seemed to be
waiting some reply more potent than that syllabled on the lips of
the man before her。
Howbeit that was the only response。 〃Darling；〃 he said kissing
her； 〃but wouldn't that justify them〃
〃Stop；〃 she said suddenly。 Then putting her hand over his mouth；
she continued with the same half…weary expression： 〃Don't let us go
over all that again either。 It is SO tiresome。 Listen； dear。
You'll do one or two little things for mewon't you； dandy boy？
Don't linger long at the school…house after lessons。 Go right
home！ Don't look after these men TO…DAYto…morrow； Saturday； is
your holidayyou knowand you'll have more time。 Keep to
yourself to…day as much as you can； dear； for twelve hoursuntil
untilyou hear from me； you know。 It will be all right then；〃 she
added； lifting her eyelids with a sudden odd resemblance to her
father's look of drowsy pain； which Ford had never noticed before。
〃Promise me that； dear； won't you？〃
With a mental reservation he promised hurriedlypreoccupied in his
wonder why she seemed to avoid his explanation； in his desire to
know what had happened； in the pride that had kept him from asking
more or volunteering a defence； and in his still haunting sense of
having been wronged。 Yet he could not help saying as he caught and
held her hand：
〃YOU have not doubted me； Cressy？ YOU have not allowe