“Wouldn’t you be afraid?”
“Hardly.”
“But I should be taking the credit for something I hadn’t done.”
“And Eleanor would be the happier thereby and none of the rest of the world would be affected either way.”
Betty looked at the pond again and then gave Katherine a soft little hug. “Katherine Kittredge, you’re an old dear,” she said, “and if you really don’t mind, I’ll go ahead; but if she asks me how I dared to come alone or says anything about how I got here, I shall tell her that you were with me.”
“All right, but I fancy she won’t be thinking about that. The matches are so she can see her way to you. It’s awfully hard to follow a sound across the water, but if you light one match after another she can get to you before the supply gives out, if she’s anywhere near. Don’t light any till she answers. If she doesn’t answer, I’ll come down to you and we’ll walk on up the river a little way and find her there.”
“Yes,” said Betty. “Where shall you stay?”
“Oh, right under this tree, I guess,” answered Katherine carelessly.
“Good-bye.”
“Good-bye.”