Then John rose, saying it was time to go, and Robert, who was to see him a few miles on his journey, remembered that there was still something to be done, and hurried away.
He might as well have stayed where he was, for the parting between these two was as undemonstrative as their meeting had been. But when the young men had gone a few steps down the pavement, John turned back again to the door where Allison was still standing.
“Allie,” said he, “say a kind word to me before I go. Tell me you have forgiven the presumption of that night.”
“I have had none but kind thoughts of you since then, John,” said she, giving him her hand.
He stooped and kissed it.
“I am not going to ask anything from you just now, because— But I must tell you—that I love you dearly,—so dearly, that I can wait patiently till you shall bid me come again.”
Laying her hand upon his shoulder, Allison whispered softly:
“Will you wait till the year is over, John?”