"Just as you say," said Mason, regretfully; "but I tell you, Barbara, it's two weeks of dead lost time."
Then he got up and held out his hand to her.
"Good-bye, Barbara."
"Good-bye, Mr. Mason."
"Oh, call me Hiram! It's more friendly, and you call all the other young men by their first names."
"But you're the master."
"I'm not the master of you, that's clear. Besides, you've left school." He was holding her hand in gentle protest all this time.
"Well, good-bye—Hiram!" said Barbara, with a visible effort which ended in a little laugh.
Mason let go of her hand and turned abruptly and walked out of the door, and then swiftly down the meadow path. Barbara stood and looked after him as long as she could see his form; then she slowly shut and latched the kitchen door and came and covered with ashes the remaining embers of the fire, and took the candle from the mantel-piece and went through the now vacant sitting-room to her chamber above.