The boy choked back a sob.
“I’ll go on one condition——”
“Well?”
“If you get in trouble about this thing, that you’ll let me know.”
John grasped his hand:
“I promise you.”
Mrs. Wilson and Susie accompanied them to the station. As the train signalled to pull out Billy shook hands with Susie awkwardly and tried to take leave of her mother in the same way, but Mrs. Wilson broke down, threw her arms around his neck and sobbed:
“Billy, darling, you’re my own sweet boy—I love you—I love you! You’ll write to me every week—won’t you?”
Billy promised, disengaging himself in evident embarrassment and trying to hide his tears.
Moved by a sudden impulse Susie smiled, drew Billy’s head down and kissed him.