Part 55 (1/2)

Ingleby stood silent a moment. ”If you had loved me, you would never have betrayed me. I am afraid it is.”

Grace looked at him steadily, with the colour in her cheeks, and her voice was a little tremulous.

”Perhaps I wouldn't--like you, I do not know.” Then she held out her hand. ”Don't think too hardly of me. Good-bye, Walter.”

Ingleby touched her fingers, for he dared not trust himself further, and swinging his shapeless hat off abruptly turned away, while Grace stood very still until the shadows of the pines closed about him. That was the last she ever saw of him.

It was half an hour later when he walked quietly into the bakery, and came upon Hetty getting her few belongings together.

”I have come back--to the people and the place I belong to. You will not turn me out?” he said.

Hetty's eyes shone softly. ”We have been waiting for you, Walter--we knew you would come. Still, I'm not sure you can ever get quite back to where you were before.”

Ingleby saw her meaning, for he remembered the locket; and it seemed that Hetty knew what he was thinking, for a little colour crept into her face.

”Well,” he said, ”I will be patient, and try very hard.”

Then he heard footsteps, and, going out, met Leger at the door. The latter turned and came down the trail with him.

”We are taking the trail to-morrow. Are you coming with us?” he said.