She saved him the embarrassment of opening the conversation. "Come into the library," she said softly. "I want to speak to you."
Wondering and rather frightened, he followed her.
"I'm going home this afternoon," she began. "I've got everything packed, and I've told everybody that I don't feel very well."
"You aren't sick?" he asked, really worried.
"Of course not, but I had to say something. The train leaves in an hour or two, and I want to have a talk with you before I go."
"But hang it, Cynthia, think of what you're missing. There's a baseball game with Raleigh this afternoon, a tea-dance in the Union after that, the Musical Clubs concert this evening—I sing with the Glee club and Norry's going to play a solo, and I'm in the Banjo Club, too—and we are going to have a farewell dance at the house after the concert." Hugh pleaded earnestly; but somehow down in his heart he wished that she wouldn't stay.
"I know, but I've got to go. Let's go somewhere out in the woods where we can talk without being disturbed."
Still protesting, he led her out of the house, across the campus, past the lake, and into the woods. Finally they sat down on a smooth rock.
"I'm awfully sorry to bust up your party, Hugh," Cynthia began slowly, "but I've been doing some thinking, and I've just got to beat it." She paused a moment and then looked him square in the eyes. "Do you love me?"
For an instant Hugh's eyes dropped, and then he looked up and lied like a gentleman. "Yes," he said simply; "I love you, Cynthia."