But they stole forth, back down the woods road as Adam and Eve must have stolen from the Garden.
Just before they emerged into the clearing, Bernice turned. She clutched Nathan’s coat.
“Don’t you ever tell I took off my shoes and stockings!” she commanded. “Promise me! And don’t you dare break your promise!”
The boy agreed readily enough.
“And now, Nathan Forge,” she said, with a subtle glance around, “kiss me! Just once more. For the last time! A good one!”
But when the boy complied, his face burned. In the kiss he sensed no ecstasy.
He went out to the picnic grounds to run directly into the clutches of his father.
“Where have you been?” Johnathan demanded ominously. The whipcords of his neck stood out in anger.
“Nowhere,” whimpered Nathan. “Just over in the woods.”
“I’m told you’ve been missing all day.”