“At the cross roads!” said Peggy slowly, and her eye wandered to the signboard which marked the paths branching north, south, east, and west. She stopped short and stood gazing into the boy’s face, her eyes big and solemn, the wind blowing her hair into loose little curls beneath her scarlet cap, while her mind seized eagerly on the significance of the position. “At the cross roads, Rob, to go our different ways! Good-bye, good-bye! I hate to say it. You—you won’t forget, and like the horrid boys at college better than me, will you, Rob?”
Robert gave a short, strangled little laugh.
“I think—not! Cheer up, partner! We will meet again and have a better time together than we have had yet. The third volume is always more exciting than the first. I say we shall, and you know when I make up my mind to a thing, it has to be done!”
“Ah, but how?” sighed Peggy faintly. “But how?” Vague prophecies of the future were not much comfort to her in this moment of farewell. She wanted something more definite, but Rob had no time to enter into details. Even as she spoke the carriage drew up beside them, and while the occupants congratulated Peggy on having walked so far and so well, he could only grip her hand, and take his place in silence beside his sister.
Lady Darcy bent forward to smile farewell; Rosalind waved her hand, and there they were off again, driving swiftly homewards, while Peggy stood watching, a solitary figure upon the roadside.
Arthur and his companions hurried forward to join her, afraid lest she should be tired and overcome with grief by the parting with her friend and partner.
“Poor little Peg! She won’t like it a bit,” said Arthur. “She’s crying! I’m sure she is.”
“She is putting her handkerchief to her eyes,” said Mellicent. “Of course, she is crying!”
“We will give her an arm apiece, and take her straight back,” said Max anxiously, “It’s a shame to have left the poor little soul alone!”
They stared with troubled eyes at the little figure which stood with its back turned towards them, in an attitude of rigid stillness. There was something pathetic about that stillness, with just the flutter of the tell-tale handkerchief to hint at the quivering face that was hidden from view. The hearts of Peggy’s companions were very tender over her at that moment, but even as they planned words of comfort and cheer, she wheeled round suddenly and walked back to meet them.