CHAPTER XX
THE PARTING OF THE WAYS
The two weeks which followed the Bivens ball, were the happiest Harriet Woodman had known since Nan's shadow had fallen across her life. Every moment was crowded with the work of preparing for her trip, except the hours she could not refuse Stuart, who had suddenly waked to the fact that something beautiful was going out of his life. Every day he asked her to play and sing for him or go for one of their rambles over the hills. They talked but little. He simply loved to be alone with her.
Harriet watched him with keen joy, and deep in her heart a secret hope began to slowly grow.
The day she sailed he refused to go with her to the pier.
"Why Jim, you must come with me!" she protested.
"No, I can't, little pal. Sit down at your piano now and sing my favourite song and I'll say goodbye here."
"But why?" she pleaded.
"I'm not quite sure how I would behave in public."