t know exactly what
I--have--done, but if it amounts to anything it is a pleasure to me."
They went together into the big general room where Gregory was talking
to Winifred somewhat volubly. Agatha, however, judged from his manner
that he had, at least, the grace to feel ashamed of himself. Supper, she
heard Mrs. Nansen say, would be ready very shortly, and feeling in no
mood for general conversation, she sat near a window looking out across
the harvest field until she heard a distant shout, and saw a wagon
appear on the crest of the hill. To her astonishment, two of the binders
stopped, and she saw the men who sprang down from them run to meet the
wagon. In another moment or two more of the teams stopped, and a faint
clamor of cries went up, while here and there little running figures
straggled up the slope. All the occupants of the room clustered about
her at the window, and Winifred turned to Hastings.
"What are they shouting for?" she asked. "They are all crowding about
the wagon now."
Agatha felt suddenly dazed and dizzy, for she knew what the answer to
that question must be even before Mrs. Hastings spoke.
"It's Harry coming back!" she gasped.
In another moment they all hastened out of the house, and Agatha found
it scarcely possible to follow them, for the sudden revulsion of feeling
had almost overpowered her. Still, she reached the door, and saw the
wagon drawn up amid a cluster of struggling men. Presently Wyllard, whom
they surrounded, broke from them. She stood on the threshold waiting for
him, and in the moment of her exultation a pang smote her as she saw how
gaunt and worn he was. He came straight toward her, apparently
regardless of the others, and, clasping the hands she held out, drew her
into the house.
"So you have not married Gregory yet?" he questioned, and laughed
triumphantly when he saw the answer in her shining eyes.
"No," she said softly, "it is certain that I will never marry him."
Wyllard drew her back still further with a compelling grasp.
"Why?" he asked.
Agatha looked up at him, and then turned her eyes away.
"I was waiting for you," she said simply.
Then he took her in his arms and kissed her before he turned, still with
her hand in his, to face the others who were now flocking back to the
house. In another moment they went in together, amid a confused clamor
of good wishes.
THE END
* * * * *
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