“You know”—in the old resolute way—“you know what I mean the end to be, if it may be?”
“I think I do.”
Grace appeared at the Rectory very soon afterward, and asked for Miss Barholm. Anice came down into the parlor to meet him at once. She could not help guessing that for some reason or other he had come to speak of Joan, and his first words confirmed her impression.
“I have just left the Thwaites',” he said. “I went there to see Joan Lowrie, and find that she is not there. Mrs. Thwaite told me that she had left Riggan. Is that true?”
“Yes. She went away last night She came here to bid me good-by, and leave a farewell message for you.”
Grace was both troubled and embarrassed.
“I——” he faltered. “Do you understand it?”
“Yes,” Anice answered.
Their eyes met, and she went on:
“You know we have said that it was best that she should break away entirely from the past. She has gone to try if it is possible to do it. She wants another life altogether.”