"Well," John said after half an hour, "I guess I'd better be going."
"So soon!" his mother exclaimed. "Vy not in de morning? We go to church, you ant me."
He shook his head, sadly.
"No," he said. "I must go back to-night. The train leaves before long."
"All right," she muttered.
At the gate in the low fence he turned. His mother's figure was silhouetted against the light of the room at the end of the hall.
"Good-bye," he said, "and tell Pauline to take care."
"Goot-pye," she called to him softly.
She turned back into the house at once and he heard the door shut.
Passing beneath an electric light he examined his watch. The train was due to leave in an hour. He decided to walk to the station. The cold felt good on his face.