Next day they parted, Michael going to the Benedictine house at Cava, Guy pressing on toward Salerno. With every breath of the rosemary, with every sough of the Aleppo pines, with every murmur of the blue Tyrrhenian winking far below, more and more sharply did he realize that what he had thought at the time was wonderful relief had been more truly despair. Yet in a happier September might he not hope to come back this way, setting his face toward England? _One more turn of the head in the gathering gloom_ _To watch her figure in the lighted door:_ _One more wish that I never should turn again,_ _But watch her standing there for evermore._ _Pauline_ Pauline went away with Monica to spend the rest of August and the beginning of September in the depths of the country, where however for all the stillness of the ripe season she did not find very great peace. In every lane, in every wood, below the brow of every hill she was always half-expecting to meet Guy. It was not until Monica was going to her sisterhood and that she came back to see TO LET staring from the windows of Plashers Mead that Pauline was able at last to realize what she had irrevocably done. On the day after her return Pauline went to see Miss Verney. To her she explained that the engagement was at an end. "I heard something about it," said Miss Verney. "And feeling sure that it was doubtless on account of money, I must very impertinently beg you to accept this." Pauline looked at the packet the old maid had thrust into her hand. "Those are deeds," said Miss Verney importantly. "I have felt for some time past that I do not really need all my money. My income, you know, is very nearly £250 a year. £100 would be ample, and therefore I hope _you_ will accept the surplus." "My darling Miss Verney," said Pauline, "it could not be." But the old maid was with very great difficulty persuaded of the impossibility. "And you mean to say," she gasped, "that you are never going to see each other again?" "Oh, sometimes," Pauline whispered, "sometimes I wonder if it could really happen that Guy and I should never meet again. Please don't let's talk about it. I shall come and see you often, but you mustn't ever talk about Guy and me, will you?" "I shall put this money aside," Miss Verney announced, "because I am _most_ anxious to prove that £100 a year is ample for me. Extravagance has always been my temptation!" Later in the afternoon Pauline left her friend and went down Wychford High Street toward home. There were great wine-dark dahlias in the gardens, and the bell was sounding for Evensong. She knelt behind a pillar, all of the congregation. How through this winter that was coming she would love her father and mother. And if Guy ever came back ... if Guy ever came back.... She heard her father's voice dying away with the close of the Office; and presently they walked about the golden churchyard, arm-in-arm.