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the desk； I reckon you ain't got no suspicion of any one spyin'
round yehev ye？〃
In an instant the recollection of Seth Davis's face at the window
and the corroboration of Rupert's warning flashed across Ford's
mind。 The hypothesis that Seth had imagined that they were
Cressy's letters； and had thrown them down without reading them
when he had found out his mistake； seemed natural。 For if he had
read them he would undoubtedly have kept them to show to Cressy。
The complex emotions that had disturbed the master on the discovery
of Uncle Ben's relationship to the writer of the letters were
resolving themselves into a furious rage at Seth。 But before he
dared revenge himself he must be first assured that Seth was
ignorant of their contents。 He turned to Uncle Ben。
〃I have a suspicion； but to make it certain I must ask you for the
present to say nothing of this to any one。〃
Uncle Ben nodded。 〃And when you hev found out and you're settled
in your mind that you kin make my mind easy about this yer Lou
Price； ez we'll call her； bein' divorced squarely； and bein'； so to
speak； in the way o' gettin' married agin； ye might let me know ez
a friend。 I reckon I won't trouble you any more to…nightonless
you and me takes another sociable drink together in the bar。 No？
Well； then； good…night。〃 He moved slowly towards the door。 With
his hand on the lock he added： 〃Ef yer writin' to her agin； you
might say ez how you found ME lookin' well and comf'able； and
hopin' she's enjyin' the same blessin'。 'So long。〃
He disappeared； leaving the master in a hopeless collapse of
conflicting； and； it is to be feared； not very heroic emotions。
The situation； which had begun so dramatically； had become suddenly
unromantically ludicrous； without； however； losing any of its
embarrassing quality。 He was conscious that he occupied the
singular position of being more ridiculous than the husbandwhose
invincible and complacent simplicity stung him like the most
exquisite irony。 For an instant he was almost goaded into the fury
of declaring that he had broken off from the writer of the letters
forever； but its inconsistency with the chivalrous attitude he had
just taken occurred to him in time to prevent him from becoming
doubly absurd。 His rage with Seth Davis seemed to him the only
feeling left that was genuine and rational； and yet； now that Uncle
Ben had gone； even that had a spurious ring。 It was necessary for
him to lash himself into a fury over the hypothesis that the
letters MIGHT have been Cressy's； and desecrated by that scoundrel's
touch。 Perhaps he had read them and left them to be picked up by
others。 He looked over them carefully to see if their meaning
would； to the ordinary reader； appear obvious and compromising。
His eye fell on the first paragraph。
〃I should not be quite fair with you； Jack； if I affected to
disbelieve in your faith in your love for me and its endurance； but
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