resulted in the wretched feeling that we were both very
young after all. It is not likely that I would have decided
to go home for a fortnight, but that I thought it would be
pleasant to observe the effect of saying good-by to Hetty. I
had no doubt that she would be quite overcome with grief and
loneliness after I had gone, and, reckless youth that I was,
nothing could have made me more happy than to have known
that she really felt grieved on my account. And yet when I
called to bid them all good-by, the evening before I
started, she betrayed no sign of regret. In fact, she seemed
so much happier than usual that I worried about it for
weeks, even after I had gone so far away that it seemed
doubtful whether we would ever meet again. It did not occur
to me that I had been less skilful than she in concealing my
emotions, and that she might be merry only because she could
perceive that I was sad. Mrs. Chaffin was the only member of
the family who seemed to entertain feelings as serious as my
own. She had dreamed that I would not come back again, and
we all laughed at her then, but when the swift years had
revealed some of their secrets, we thought of this prophetic
dream with a sadness deeper than any that comes to childish
hearts. Hester and Phil walked with me to the gate when I
left the house. The radiance of a full moon fell on our
faces through the flying clouds. Phil, stupid fellow! had so
much to say that I did not get a chance to speak to his
sister before she darted back to the house as if pursued. On
reaching my lodgings I was surprised to find a gentleman
waiting for me.

"Don't know me, eh?" said he, shaking my hand warmly.