All this led to but one thing.
Something was bound to happen, and suddenly Northrup decided to go to King’s Forest!
Once this decision was reached he realized that he had been travelling toward it since the night of his scene with Kathryn. The struggle was over. He was at rest, and began cheerfully 275 to make preparations. Of course, he argued, he meant to keep the spirit, if not the letter, of his agreement with Larry Rivers.
This was not safe reasoning, and he set it aside impatiently.
He waited a few days, deliberating, hoping his mother would return from a visit she was making at Manly’s hospital in the South. When at the end of a week no word came from her, he packed his grip and set forth, on foot again, for the Forest.
He did the distance in half the time. His strong, hardened body served him well and his desire spurred him on.
When he came in sight of the crossroads a vague sense of change struck him. The roads were better. There was an odd little building near the yellow house. It was the new school, but of that Northrup had not heard. From the distance the chapel bell sounded. It did not have that lost, weird note that used to mark it––there was definiteness about it that suggested a human hand sending forth a friendly greeting.
“Queer!” muttered Northrup, and then he did a bold thing. He went to the door of the yellow house and knocked. He had not intended to do that.
How quiet it was within! But again the welcoming door swayed open, and for a moment Northrup thought the room was empty, for his eyes were filled with the late afternoon glow.
It was autumn and the days were growing short.