"And I didn't need to—for I am Anne Leavitt!"
As quickly as she could break away from her aunt, she ran off in search of Jonathan. She found him tying up some of his vines that had been beaten down in the storm.
"Jonathan—that letter I gave you—did—did you give it to—to Mr. Hyde?" she asked with a faint hope that he had' not.
"Yes'm! Caught him jes' agoin' to take the stage."
"Going away?" Nancy cried.
"Yes'm. He hed a big bag and he give me a handshake like he was goin' to be away for a spell, tho' it's most harvestin' and he's not the kind to leave Judson short-handed—not him."
After a moment Nancy grew conscious that old Jonathan was staring curiously at her. So she turned and walked slowly back to the house.
Peter Hyde had gone away—without a word! He would read her letter—he would always think of her as she had pictured herself in it! And he might never know how the curious tangle had come out!