I walked slowly home, and directly up-stairs to bed.  I lay awake a long time, heard father and mother go to their chamber, then Mary and Sophy to theirs.  At last I wondered what had become of Jamie.

I pushed aside the window-curtain and looked out.  ’Twas bright moonlight.  I saw Jamie coming over the hill from Mr. Nathaniel’s.  He came in softly.  I pretended sleep.  He was still so long that I looked up to see what he could be doing.  He was leaning his elbow on the desk, looking straight at the floor, thinking.

All that night I lay awake, staring at the moonlight on the curtains.  I was again on the old track, for I could not possibly imagine what he should have to say to Margaret at that hour.

Towards morning I fell asleep, and never woke till the people were getting ready for meeting.  I hurried, for the instruments met before the rest to practise.

Nearly all the young folks sat in the seats.  Jamie stood at the head of the back row, on the men’s side.  His voice was worth all the rest.  Margaret came in late.  She looked like a beauty that day.  Her place was at the head of the first row of girls.  I, with my bass-viol, was behind all.

The minister read the hymn beginning with this verse,—­

    “We are a garden walled around,
    Chosen and made peculiar ground;
    A little spot inclosed by grace,
    Out of the world’s wide wilderness.”

While he was reading it, I saw her write a little note, and hand it across the alley to Jamie.  He smiled, and wrote another back.  After meeting, they had a talk.  These things sound small enough now.  But now I am neither young, nor in love, nor jealous.

That night was our last at home.  After supper, I strolled off towards the meeting-house.  ’Twas about sundown.  I walked awhile in the graveyard, and then followed the path into the wood at the back of it.

I see that I have been telling my story in a way to favor myself,—­that even now I am unwilling wholly to expose my folly.  I could not, if I tried, tell how that night in the wood I was beset at once by jealousy, pride, love, and anger, and so well-nigh driven mad.

I passed from the wood to the open field, and reached the shore.  The vessel lay at the wharf.  I climbed the rigging, and watched the moon rising over the water.  It must have been near midnight when I reached home.

The vessel sailed early in the morning.  I did not see Margaret,—­never bid her good-bye.  After we were under way, and were out of the windings of the channel, Jamie came and leaned with me against the rail.  And there in silence we stood until the homes of those we loved so well had faded from our sight.

Poor Jamie!  I knew afterwards how troubled he was at the way I treated him that summer.  He wanted to be friendly, but I stood off.  He wanted to speak of the folks at home, but I would never join him.  At last he left off trying.