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a slight wave of his crippled hand over his whole person； as if
indicating some personal adornment； said； 〃It sets you off！〃
He nodded； turned； and re…entered the ball…room。 Mr。 Ford； without
trusting himself to further speech； elbowed his way through the
crowded staircase to the street。 But even there his strange anger；
as well as the equally strange remorse； which had seized him in
McKinstry's presence； seemed to evaporate in the clear moonlight
and soft summer air。 There was the river…bank； with the tremulous
river glancing through the dreamy mist； as they had seen it from
the window together。 He even turned to look back on the lighted
ball…room； as if SHE might have been looking out； too。 But he knew
he should see her again to…morrow； and he hurriedly put aside all
reserve； all thought of the future； all examination of his conduct；
to walk home enwrapped in the vaguer pleasure of the past。 Rupert
Filgee； to whom he had never given a second thought； now peacefully
slumbering beside his baby brother； had not gone home in more
foolish or more dangerous company。
When he reached the hotel； he was surprised to find it only eleven
o'clock。 No one had returned； the building was deserted by all but
the bar…keeper and a flirting chambermaid； who regarded him with
aggrieved astonishment。 He began to feel very foolish； and half
regretted that he had not stayed to dance with Mrs。 Tripp； or； at
least； remained as a quiet onlooker apart from the others。 With a
hasty excuse about returning to write letters for the morning's
post； he took a candle and slowly remounted the stairs to his room。
But on entering he found himself unprepared for that singular lack
of sympathy with which familiar haunts always greet our new
experiences； he could hardly believe that he had left that room
only two hours before； it seemed so uncongenial and strange to the
sensation that was still possessing him。 Yet there were his table；
his books； his arm…chair； his bed as he had left them； even a
sticky fragment of gingerbread that had fallen from Johnny's
pocket。 He had not yet reached that stage of absorbing passion
where he was able to put the loved one in his own surroundings； she
as yet had no place in this quiet room； he could scarcely think of
her here； and he MUST think of her； if he had to go elsewhere。 An
extravagant idea of walking the street until his restless dream was
over seized him； but even in his folly the lackadaisical； moonstruck
quality of such a performance was too obvious。 The school…house！
He would go there； it was only a pleasant walk； the night was
lovely； and he could bring the myrtle…spray from his desk。 It was
too significant nowif not too preciousto be kept there。 Perhaps
he had not examined it closely； nor the place where it had lain；
there might be an additional sign； word； or token he had overlooked。
The thought thrilled him； even while he was calmly arguing to
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 hav