“I don’t want you to imagine,” he said slowly, “that I’m thinking any evil of my people. I understand their feelings, their pride, and so on, well enough; but they don’t understand me one little bit. Well, I’m going to look for something to do that doesn’t require a university brain. To begin with, I’m going to London—” “London! Oh!” “Still hankering, Kitty?” he gently inquired. “Never mind me. Please tell me more—if you want to.” “There isn’t any more. If you are watching the train to-morrow night, you may see the last of me. I’ll be on the look out, anyway.” They had come to the gate leading to the main road, and by tacit agreement they halted. “But you haven’t quarrelled with your people, Colin?” He smiled queerly. “We don’t quarrel in our family—more’s the pity. We bottle it up, and of course that preserves the resentment. So, as far as I can see, we shall part politely, but I’m perfectly well aware that I needn’t trouble to come home again until I can prove that my way was the right one.” His tone changed suddenly. “But that’s enough—too much—about my affairs. Tell me something about yourself, Kitty.” She shook her head. “I must go; it’s almost ten, and—” “Let me come as far as the end of the little wood.” She hesitated and gave in. It was for the last time. “We must walk quickly, then,” she said. But their steps lagged in the darkness of the pines. “Do you still want to get away from Dunford?” he asked her. “Does the London train still call you?” “Oh, don’t speak about it! And please try to forget that I ever spoke about it. I’m a silly girl no longer.” “I never thought your ideas and ambitions silly, Kitty.” “You tried to discourage them,” she said quickly. “That was my selfishness. I didn’t want you to go away from Dunford. It may not be a very lively place, but it’s safe. Quite a number of people seem to find moderate happiness in the neighbourhood.” “The happiness of turnips!” she said fiercely, then laughed sadly. “Oh, that wasn’t fair of me,” she went on. “But, you know, before I came to live with my aunt and uncle here, I always looked forward to seeing the world and doing something in it, and my father encouraged me—but there’s no use in going over that again. Some day, perhaps, I’ll resign myself to selling postage stamps, and sending telegrams and—” “Are your uncle and aunt still set against your going elsewhere? Now that you’re of age they could hardly prevent—” “Please say no more, Colin. When you come back rich or famous, or both, you will find me here.” He could not check the words that rushed from his heart. “Kitty, if I could only hope that I might find you here—waiting.” She did not affect to misunderstand him.