For, you see, Crailey told me what you said to him when--when he met you here the last time. I have no way to know which of them you meant; but-- he will come back to you! I am sure of it, because I believe you are to be happy. Ah, you've had your allotment of pain! After all, there is so little to regret: the town seems empty without its young men, yet you may rejoice, remembering how bravely they went and how gaily! They will sing half the way to Vera Cruz! You think it strange I should say there is so little to regret, when I've just laid away my best friend. It was his own doctrine, and the selfish personal grief and soreness grows less when I think of the gallant end he made, for it was he who went away most bravely and jauntily of all. Crailey was no failure, unless I let what he taught me go to no effect. And be sure he would have told you what I tell you now, that all is well with all in the world."
"Please!" she cried, with a quick intake of breath through closed teeth.
"I will do anything in the world to please you," he answered, sorrowfully.
"Do you mean that--"
She turned at last and faced him, but without lifting her eyes. "Why did you come to say good-by to me?"
"I don't understand."
"I think you do." Her voice was cold and steady, but it was suddenly given to him to perceive that she was trembling from head to heel.
An exclamation of remorse broke from him.
"Ah! You came here to be alone. I--"
"Stop," she said. "You said good-by to me once before. Did you come to see--what you saw then?"
He fell back in utter amazement, but she advanced upon him swiftly. "Was it that?" she cried.
The unfortunate young man could make no reply, and remained unable to defend himself from her inexplicable attack.
"You have not forgotten," she went on, impetuously. "It was in the crowd, just before they gave you the flag. You saw--I know you saw-- and it killed me with the shame of it! Now you come to me to look at the same thing again--and the boat waiting for you! Is it in revenge for that night at the Bareauds'? Perhaps this sounds wild to you--I can't help that--but why should you try to make it harder for me?"
>From the porch came a strong voice: "Vanrevel!"
"God knows I haven't meant to," said Tom, in bitter pain. "I don't understand. It's Cummings calling for me; I'll go at once. I'd hoped, stupidly enough, that you would tell me whom it was you meant when you spoke to Crailey, so that I could help to make it surer that he'd come back to you. But I've only annoyed you. And you were here--away from the house----avoiding me, and fearing that I--"
"Vanrevel!" shouted William. (Mrs. Tanberry had not told Lieutenant Cummings where to find Miss Betty.)
"Fearing? Yes?"
"Fearing that I might discover you." He let his eyes rest on her loveliness once more, and as he saw that she still trembled, he extended his hand toward her in a gesture of infinite gentleness, like a blessing, heaved one great sigh, and, with head erect and body straight, set his face manfully toward the house.
He had taken three strides when his heart stopped beating at an ineffable touch on his sleeve. For, with a sharp cry, she sprang to him; and then, once more, among the lilac bushes where he had caught the white kitten, his hand was seized and held between two small palms, and the eyes of Miss Betty Carewe looked into the very soul of him.
"No!" she cried. "No! Fearing with a sick heart that you might not come!"
Her pale face, misty with sweetness, wavered before him in the dusk, and he lifted his shaking hand to his forehead; her own went with it, and the touch of that steadied him.
"You mean," he whispered, brokenly, "you mean that you--"
"Yes, always," she answered, rushing through the words, half in tears.
"There was a little time when I loved what your life had been more than you. Ah, it was you that I saw in him. Yet it was not what you had done after all, but just you! I knew there could not be anyone else--though I thought it could never be you--that night, just before they gave the flag."
"We've little time, Vanrevel!" called the voice from the porch.
Tom's eyes filled slowly. He raised them and looked at the newly come stars. "Crailey, Crailey!" he murmured.
Her gaze followed his. "Ah, it's he--and they--that make me know you will come back to me!" she said.
