Hildred met us under the great yew tree. It had always been a trysting-place of ours, and we used to part there when we were children, coming back from school. Their great parting was to be there now.
He went up to her, and took her in his arms as if he could never leave her. Hildred was crying. She did not say much, but she clung to him and held him fast.
'Dear heart!' he said, kissing her hair softly. 'You must not cry so. Hush, Hildred!'
I did not know how much tenderness there could be in his voice till I heard those broken words—'See, here is our brother Willie. He is going to take care of you for me. He will watch over my dear love when I am gone.'
A few minutes more, and Cuthbert said, 'I must go.'
I did not see their parting. He came to me, grasped both my hands. 'God bless you. Take care of her. Don't let her forget me.'
'I am going with you.'
'No, go back to her. Stay and comfort her. Oh, be good to her, Willie!'
The distant sound of the fifes and drums came from the village down below.
'I shall be late.'