"Well, I turn back here," said Warren. "It is a piece of foolishness for you to go. There's no need of it. You haven't anything to do tomorrow that you can't do next day."
"No, but, alone in the woods, I can do a piece of work that would never come within range of me in town."
"I understand. You want to shake everybody and be absolutely alone."
"Yes, absolutely."
"But stay here over night, and if you must, walk in tomorrow. You would be just as much alone then, wouldn't you?"
"No, I am never perfectly alone except in the dark."
"Well, I have worked with you the best I know how; and you see how I'm fixed—got to find out how I stand. But I hate to see you go off in this way alone. Just look how dark it is down yonder. And I am to go back to the light and to sit there and think of you trudging along in the dark. Just think of the light I am going into—the light of that smile."
"And from away out in the woods I may turn to see you blinking in the glare. But I am keeping you. Good night."
"Wait a moment. Now, you won't think hard of me, will you?"
"Hard of you? Not if you go back."