His father and mother were in bed when he reached home. Judith's bed was empty. Douglas went out to the stable and climbed noiselessly to the loft. On the hay close to the open door lay Judith, her face dimly outlined in the moonlight. She was still sobbing in her sleep. Douglas stood looking down on her till his own eyes were tear-blinded. Then he knelt in the hay and kissed her softly on the lips. She stirred but did not open her eyes, and he slipped back to the ladder and down, without a sound.
He went to bed at once but was up in the morning before his father, leaving a note on the kitchen table:
I am going to work for Charleton till things are better here at home.
Douglas.
He found Charleton grooming Democrat. "Charleton," he said, "you made a lot of trouble for Jude last night."
"What happened?" asked Charleton.
Douglas told him.
"That was a rotten trick!" exclaimed Charleton. "I just thought he'd lick her. John's got a mean temper."
"I want to work for you a while, Charleton. I'm sick of the rows at home."
"John willing?"