Katy did not stir until the sun had vanished behind the western hills and the stars were shining. Then she rose and bathed her face and sat down by the window.
"I must think," said Katy. "I must now plan out my life in a new way."
Stubbornly she forced herself to face the event which made necessary this fresh planning of her life. Beyond the event itself she did not at this moment proceed. She beheld Alvin with his red tie, Alvin with his dark curls, Alvin with his beautiful olive skin, Alvin with his great, expressive eyes. Sitting by her window with the soft evening air blowing in her face, the odors of the garden rising sweetly about her, Adam's gentle, laughing voice, and all the other pleasant sounds of the Millerstown evening in her ears, Katy wept.
"Oh, Elend (Misery)!" cried she, after the manner of Millerstown in trouble.
After a while the voice of pride made itself heard. It was not Alvin whom she defended, but herself.
"No word of marrying was said between us."
"But he kissed you," reminded the inward voice. "You thought he would marry you."
To this Katy could return only the answer of flaming cheeks and a throbbing heart.
"And there is all the money you gave him!" reminded the voice within her.
"I said he needn't pay it back!"