He waited patiently for the reason why he must not come to see Miss Miles, and she tried hard to think of one.
“Well,” she said lamely, “you probably wouldn’t find me at the hotel. I—I take long walks, and I shouldn’t like you to come all that way from the city, you know, and not find me.”
“I’d take a longer trip than that, any day,” said Terrill, “just on the chance of seeing you!”
She had to let that pass. There was no way of explaining to him; but she made up her mind that he should not find her in, whenever he might come.
The next morning she had a letter from Barty. He wrote:
You should have seen Stafford when I got back. There he was, sitting in the dark. I told him I’d thought better of it—took all the credit for your idea, little Jacko, but what else could I do?[Pg 212]
I see now that you were right. It was so hard to leave you that I couldn’t see it then. All the way back on the train I was thinking things about you that you wouldn’t have liked. I thought you were a cold-blooded little beast to send me away like that; but after I’d seen poor old Stafford, I saw how right you were. You know, Jacko, I’d have given up Stafford, or anything else on earth, for that week with you, but you wouldn’t let me make a fool of myself. I’ve got it in me, you know, Jacko. I could make the most exalted, glorious sort of fool of myself, and I’d enjoy it; but you’ll always be my sensible little pal.
Jacqueline put down the letter and sat for a time staring before her, with a very odd expression on her face. Then she took it up and finished it.
Address letters in care of Jordan Galloway, Philipsville, Long Island. That is the nearest village, and I’ll go there for the mail whenever I get a chance; but don’t worry if you don’t hear from me every day, dear girl, because sometimes I may not be able to get into the village.
And then many affectionate messages, and a check, “so that you can stay where you are for another week.”