“No—no—” she began. “Oh this isn’t kind! I thought you had gone—or——”
“Come along, Grace,” cried Kemp. “See you tomorrow, Ward. Good-night and good luck!”
To Grace, on the homeward drive, peace seemed an unattainable thing. She had firmly resolved never to see Trenton again; but she had not only seen him but the sight of him had deepened the hunger in her heart. She was without the will to deny him the meeting for which he had asked. It was sweet to think that he had remained if only to assist her father when he had definitely said that he was leaving that night. Yes; there was kindness in this; and even though he had sent her away from Miss Reynolds’s and wounded her deeply in his manner of doing it, she knew that it was always his wish to be kind and that no power could keep her from seeing him again, if only for a last good-bye.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I
As she dressed the next morning Grace hummed and whistled, happy in the consciousness that before the day ended she would see Trenton again. The romantic strain in her warmed and quickened at the thought. Even if they were to part for all time and she should go through life with his love only a memory, it would be a memory precious and ineffaceable, that would sweeten and brighten all her years.
In his workman’s garb, as she had seen him at Kemp’s, she idealized him anew. If it had been his fate to remain a laborer, his skill would have set him apart from his fellows. He could never have been other than a man of mark. It was a compensation for anything she might miss in her life to have known the love of such a man. She was impatient with herself and sought the lowest depths of self-abasement for having doubted him. She should never again question his sincerity or his wisdom, but would abide by his decision in all things.
When she reached the dining room her father was already gone, and her mother seemed troubled about him.
“He was excited and nervous when he came home last night,” said Mrs. Durland. “He hardly slept and he left an hour ago saying he’d get a cup of coffee on his way through town. I’m afraid things haven’t been going right with him. It would be a terrible blow if the motor didn’t turn out as he expected.”
“Let’s just keep hoping, mother; that’s the only way,” Grace replied cheerily. “They wouldn’t be wasting time on it at Kemp’s if there wasn’t something in it.”