“You have had a fine time, then?” asked Elnora.

They had reached the fence.  Philip vaulted over to take a short cut across the fields.  He turned and looked at her.

“The best, the sweetest, and most wholesome time any man ever had in this world,” he said.  “Elnora, if I talked hours I couldn’t make you understand what a girl I think you are.  I never in all my life hated anything as I hate leaving you.  It seems to me that I have not strength to do it.”

“If you have learned anything worth while from me,” said Elnora, “that should be it.  Just to have strength to go to your duty, and to go quickly.”

He caught the hand she held out to him in both his.  “Elnora, these days we have had together, have they been sweet to you?”

“Beautiful days!” said Elnora.  “Each like a perfect dream to be thought over and over all my life.  Oh, they have been the only really happy days I’ve ever known; these days rich with mother’s love, and doing useful work with your help.  Good-bye!  You must hurry!”

Philip gazed at her.  He tried to drop her hand, only clutched it closer.  Suddenly he drew her toward him.  “Elnora,” he whispered, “will you kiss me good-bye?”

Elnora drew back and stared at him with wide eyes.  “I’d strike you sooner!” she said.  “Have I ever said or done anything in your presence that made you feel free to ask that, Philip Ammon?”

“No!” panted Philip.  “No!  I think so much of you I wanted to touch your lips once before I left you.  You know, Elnora——­”

“Don’t distress yourself,” said Elnora calmly.  “I am broad enough to judge you sanely.  I know what you mean.  It would be no harm to you.  It would not matter to me, but here we will think of some one else.  Edith Carr would not want your lips to-morrow if she knew they had touched mine to-day.  I was wise to say:  ‘Go quickly!’”

Philip still clung to her.  “Will you write me?” he begged.

“No,” said Elnora.  “There is nothing to say, save good-bye.  We can do that now.”

He held on.  “Promise that you will write me only one letter,” he urged.  “I want just one message from you to lock in my desk, and keep always.  Promise you will write once, Elnora.”

She looked into his eyes, and smiled serenely.  “If the talking trees tell me this winter, the secret of how a man may grow perfect, I will write you what it is, Philip.  In all the time I have known you, I never have liked you so little.  Good-bye.”

She drew away her hand and swiftly turned back to the road.  Philip Ammon, wordless, started toward Onabasha on a run.

Elnora crossed the road, climbed the fence and sought the shelter of their own woods.  She chose a diagonal course and followed it until she came to the path leading past the violet patch.  She went down this hurriedly.  Her hands were clenched at her side, her eyes dry and bright, her cheeks red-flushed, and her breath coming fast.  When she reached the patch she turned into it and stood looking around her.