There was an awkward pause. The blush upon her face detracted nothing from her beauty. Dudley felt drawn toward her as a needle is drawn by the North Star. He walked quickly toward her, hesitated as she drew back, stopped as she cast her eyes upon the ground, and presently said, "Life would be a very sad thing, would it not, if we had no pleasant memories of the past? I believe the thoughts of those happy days of our childhood are the sweetest I have ever had. It brings them back to me very vividly to find you now after so many years. Won't you even shake hands with your old playmate?"
She put out her hand shyly and reluctantly, and he took it in both of his.
"I'll walk on, Dud, and put this horse of yours in the barn," said Manton. "I'll come back presently." And he left them, feeling that perhaps the reconciliation which he was looking forward to between them would be more complete if they were left alone.
"Are you angry with me for coming?" asked Dudley softly, when he had gone.
"You should not have done it," she answered.
"Were we never to meet?"
"Never."
"Then I am glad I took matters into my own hands," said he, laughing.
"But you must go to-night—now."
"Impossible."