Holton looked coweringly from one to the other. The strangeness of the encounter was in the mind of each: that the years had slipped away and that Kirkwood was defending her from the man for whom she had abandoned him. An unearthly quiet lay upon the garden. Children's voices rose faintly on the silvery April night from the grounds beyond. Far away, beyond the station, a locomotive puffed slowly on a steep grade. The noises of the town seemed eerily blurred and distant. "Clear out! Your business here is finished. And don't come back," said Kirkwood firmly. "She asked me to meet her here;--you must have known it; it was a damned vile trick--" Holton broke out violently; but Kirkwood touched him with the end of his stick, pointed toward the gate, and repeated his order more sharply. Holton whirled on his heel, found an opening in the hedge, and left them, the boughs snapping behind him. Kirkwood was the first to speak. "He's gone, I think. I'll watch until you get safely back to Amzi's." He lifted his hat; his tone was one of dismissal and she turned as though to leave, hesitated and drew a step nearer. "If you don't mind, I'd like to speak to you a moment. I shouldn't have thought of seeking you, of course, but this makes it possible." He made no reply, but waited, leaning on his stick. Her foot tapped the walk nervously; as she readjusted the cloak it exhaled the faint scent of orris that reached him as though wafted down some dim aisle of memory. "I want to speak about Phil. It was to see Phil that I came back. I want you to know that I wouldn't take her away from you if I could. There must be no misunderstanding about this. Whatever I am or have been or may be, I am not base enough for that." He was silent for a moment. "That is something that is not in your hands or mine," he answered. "Phil is the mistress of her own affairs. I was perfectly willing that she should go to Amzi's to be with you; it's for her to decide whether she ever comes back to me." "That is--generous; very generous," she replied, as though, after hesitating before using the word, her second thought confirmed the choice. "And about the money; she told me she spoke to you about that to-day. I appreciate your attitude. I want you to understand that I'm not trying to bribe her. I'm glad of a chance to say that I would do nothing to spoil her loyalty to you. You deserve that; and I have no illusions about myself. If I thought my coming would injure her--or you--in any way, I should go at once and never come back. But I had to see her, and it has all happened fortunately--Amzi's kindness, and hers--and your own! Phil is so dear--so lovable!" Her last words broke in a sob, but she quickly regained her self-control. "I'm glad," he replied, "if you are not disappointed in her. We have been very close--comrades and friends; but she has gone beyond me; and that was inevitable. She's an independent spirit--quite capable of managing her own affairs."