Betty stood with her back to the house under the great Bartlett pear tree. She was trembling. She would not look around––Oh, no! She would wait until he asked for her. He might not ask for her! If he did not, she would not go in––not yet. But she did look around, for she felt him near her––she was sure––sure––he was near––close––
“Oh, Richard, Richard! Oh, Richard, did you know that I have been calling you in my heart––so hard, calling you, calling you?”
She was in his arms and his lips were on hers. “The same little Betty! The same dear little Betty! Lovelier––sweeter––you wore a white dress with little green sprigs on it––is this the dress?”
“Yes, no. I couldn’t wear the same old one all this time.” She spoke between laughing and crying.
“Why is this just like it?”
“Because.”
He held her away and gazed at her a moment. “What a lovely reason! What a lovely Betty!” He drew her to him again. “I heard it all––there in the court room. I was there and heard. What a load you have borne for me––my little Betty––all this time––what a load!”
“It was horrible, Richard.” She hid her flaming face on his breast. “There, before the whole town––to tell every one––everything. I––I––don’t even know what I said.”
“I do. Every word––dear little Betty! While I have been hiding like a great coward, you have been bravely bearing my terrible burden, bearing it for me.”
“Oh, Richard! For weeks and weeks my heart has been 501 calling you, calling you––night and day, calling you to come home. I told them he was Peter Junior, but they would not believe me––no one would believe me but mother. Father tried to, but only mother really did.”