“Didn’t you hear? About father’s going away and all?”
“Oh, yes. Seems to me I did. He stole a lot of money and left for parts unknown, didn’t he?”
“Yes,” said Nat in a whisper. His thoughts turned to a little packet of love notes in his pocket. Could it be possible this hardened woman and himself had ever loved?—That she was the little girl by the side of the stream that picnic day—that together they had crouched beneath his coat from a shower and she had kissed him.
“Well, come back to-morrow night,” ordered Bernice. “I’ve got to get back to my guests.”
“Your husband——” began Nathan.
Bernie started.
“I have no husband,” she snapped angrily. “I divorced him three years ago.”
“Oh!” said Nathan quickly.
IV
He went back the next night.