Noble, passing on, thought he recognized the boy as one of the Torbin family, but he was not sure, and he had no idea that the episode was in any possible manner to be connected with his own recent history.  How blindly we walk our ways!  As Noble flourished down the street, there appeared a wan face at a prison window; and the large eyes looked out upon him wistfully.  But Noble went on, as unwitting that he had to do with this prison as that he had to do with Master Torbin’s tomato.

The face at the window was not like Charlotte Corday’s, nor was the window barred, though the prisoner knew a little solace in wondering if she did not suggest that famous picture.  For all purposes, except during school hours, the room was certainly a cell; and the term of imprisonment was set at three days.  Uncle Joseph had been unable to remain at the movies forever:  people do have to go home eventually, especially when accompanied by thirteen-year-old great-nieces.  Florence had finally to face the question awaiting her; and it would have been better for her had she used less imagination in her replies.

Yet she was not wholly despondent as her eyes followed the disappearing figure of Noble Dill.  His wholesome sprightliness was visible at any distance; and who would not take a little pride in having been even the mistaken instrument of saving so gay a young man from the loss of his reason?  No; Florence was not cast down.  Day-after-to-morrow she would taste Freedom again, and her profoundest regret was that after all her Aunt Julia was not to be married.  Florence had made definite plans for the wedding, especially for the principal figure at the ceremony.  This figure, as Florence saw things, would have been that of the “Flower Girl,” naturally a niece of the bride; but she was able to dismiss the bright dream with some philosophy.  And to console her for everything, had she not a star in her soul?  Had she not discovered that she could write poetry whenever she felt like it?

Noble passed from her sight, but nevertheless continued his radiant progress down Julia’s Street.  Life stretched before him, serene, ineffably fragrant, unending.  He saw it as a flower-strewn sequence of calls upon Julia, walks with Julia, talks with Julia by the library fire.  Old Mr. Atwater was to be away four days longer, and Julia, that great-hearted bride-not-to-be, had given him her promise.

Blushing, indeed divinely, she had promised him upon her sacred word, never so long as she lived, to be engaged to anybody at all.

THE END

* * * * *

BOOKS BY BOOTH TARKINGTON

ALICE ADAMS
BEASLEY’S CHRISTMAS PARTY
BEAUTY AND THE JACOBIN
CHERRY
CONQUEST OF CANAAN
GENTLE JULIA
HARLEQUIN AND COLUMBINE
HIS OWN PEOPLE
IN THE ARENA
MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE
PENROD
PENROD AND SAM
RAMSEY MILHOLLAND
SEVENTEEN
THE BEAUTIFUL LADY
THE FLIRT
THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA
THE GIBSON UPRIGHT
THE GUEST OF QUESNAY
THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS
THE MAN FROM HOME
THE TURMOIL
THE TWO VANREVELS