She was thinking about this plan when she went up-stairs to bed an hour later.  Jeff had stopped her at the foot of the stairs to say, “I’d just like a good secure promise from you about that letter-writing.  I’ll enjoy the time that’s left a lot better if I know it isn’t coming to a regular jumping-off place at the end.  Will you promise to write regularly?”

She paused on the bottom step, where she was just on a level with the straightforward dark eyes, half boy’s, half man’s, which met hers with the clear look of good comradeship.  There was no sentimentality in the gaze, but undeniably strong liking and respect.  She answered in Jeff’s own spirit: 

“I promise.  I really shouldn’t know how to do without hearing about your plans and the things that happen to you.  I’m not a very good letter-writer, but I’ll try to tell you things that will interest you.”

“Good!  I’m no flowery expert myself, but I fancy we can write as we talk, and that’s enough for me.  Good-night!  Happy dreams.”

“Good-night!” she responded, and went on up-stairs, turning to wave at Jeff from the landing, as he stood in the doorway, preparing to go out to the tents where he and Just, Doctor Forester, Frederic and Lanse were spending these dry June nights.

Evelyn went on to the odd old bedroom under the gable, where she and Lucy were quartered together.  She found Lucy lying so still that she thought her asleep, and so made ready for bed with speed and quiet, remembering that Lucy had been first to come in, and imagining her tired with the day’s sports.

Evelyn herself did not go at once to sleep.  There were too many pleasant things to think of for that; and although her eyes began to close at last, she was yet, at the end of half an hour, awake, when Lucy stirred softly beside her and sat up in bed.  After a moment the younger girl slipped out to the floor, using such care that Evelyn thought her making unusual and kindly effort not to disturb her bedfellow.

After a little, as Lucy did not return, Evelyn opened her eyes and looked out into the moonlight.  Lucy was dressing, so rapidly and noiselessly that Evelyn watched her, amazed.

She was on the point of asking if the girl were ill when she observed that Lucy was putting on the delicate dress and gay ribbons she had worn during the evening, and was even arranging her hair.  Something prompted Evelyn to lie still, for in all the winter’s association she had never grown quite to trust Lucy or to like her ways.

More than any one else, however, she herself had won the other girl’s liking, and had come to feel a certain responsibility for her.  So when Lucy, after making wholly ready, had stolen to the door, let herself out, and closed it silently behind her, Evelyn sprang out of bed.

Perhaps Lucy simply could not sleep, she said to herself, and had gone down to sit on the lower porch, or lie in one of the hammocks swinging under the trees.  The night was exceedingly warm, even the usual cooling breath from the river being absent.