Hugh saw that he was getting deeper in at every word he uttered and went back to a discussion of the farm work.
Elizabeth waited intentionally till she saw the men pass Nathan’s house before she started home. Try as she would, she did not yearn for her husband’s return. Life was short, her youth was going fast, and her fear of the faded life grew as she looked forward to an old age spent with John Hunter after Hugh’s departure. Hugh must go, there was no question about that. He had told her night before last that he thought of it; had spoken of it incidentally enough, but in such wise that the girl knew why he was going. She had felt at the time that Hugh listened for her reply, but there was none she could make, and her silence added the final word to his decision. Elizabeth knew that it was the only honourable course; she consented to it in her mind, and yet, as she looked ahead to a time when she could not have him to take shelter behind with the cream jars of her life, she was sick at what she must face. Even to-day she hoped that he would be present when she drove Patsie into the yard.
Fortune favoured Elizabeth in getting home with the horse and buggy. John had said that he was going to the pasture to look over the stock, and when Hugh saw Elizabeth drive through the gate they had left open, there was nothing for him to do but go forward to take her horse. John had seen her coming and had come back from the pasture gate, and the three met.
“See how brave I have become in your absence,” she said.
“Well, I guess you’ve driven horses as long as I have,” John Hunter replied happily, and kissed the astonished wife and the child in her arms with such real pleasure in returning to them that it was good to meet him after all.
“If he’d always be like that,” Elizabeth thought wistfully, and Hugh Noland felt more like a criminal in the presence of that kiss than he had ever done in his life.
“Here, I’ll tie Patsie up after I give her a drink. You go in with Elizabeth and I’ll follow as soon as its done,” John said to Hugh, and turning to Elizabeth said, “You haven’t taken very good care of him since I’ve been away, dear. Go on in and get a book and I’ll listen for an hour before I go to the pasture.”
“I’ll do no such thing. I’ll go to that pasture with you—that’s what I’ll do. I’m not sick. Rats! Elizabeth knows I——”
Hugh Noland stopped short, “I beg your pardon, Mrs. Hunter,” he added confusedly.
“I don’t know why you shouldn’t call me by my first name; I do you,” Elizabeth answered, glad in spite of herself.