.

"Because it's such a hopeless sort of word. Don't let's SAY it at all.
Just see me off with a wave of your hands. It won't seem half so bad
then. And don't any of you cry if you can help it. I want to remember
you all smiling."

We went out of the old orchard where the autumn night wind was beginning
to make its weird music in the russet boughs, and shut the little gate
behind us. Our revels there were ended.

CHAPTER XXXIII. THE STORY GIRL GOES

The morning dawned, rosy and clear and frosty. Everybody was up early,
for the travellers must leave in time to catch the nine o'clock train.
The horse was harnessed and Uncle Alec was waiting by the door. Aunt
Janet was crying, but everybody else was making a valiant effort not to.
The Awkward Man and Mrs. Dale came to see the last of their favourite.
Mrs. Dale had brought her a glorious sheaf of chrysanthemums, and the
Awkward Man gave her, quite gracefully, another little, old, limp book
from his library.

"Read it when you are sad or happy or lonely or discouraged or hopeful,"
he said gravely.

"He has really improved very much since he got married," whispered
Felicity to me.

Sara Stanley wore a smart new travelling suit and a blue felt hat with a
white feather. She looked so horribly grown up in it that we felt as if
she were lost to us already.

Sara Ray had vowed tearfully the night before that she would be up in
the morning to say farewell. But at this juncture Judy Pineau appeared
to say that Sara, with her usual luck, had a sore throat, and that her
mother consequently would not permit her to come. So Sara had written
her parting words in a three-cornered pink note.

"My OWN DARLING FRIEND:--WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS my feelings over not
being able to go up this morning to say good-bye to one I so
FONDLY ADORE. When I think that I cannot SEE YOU AGAIN my heart
is almost TOO FULL FOR UTTERANCE. But mother says I cannot and I
MUST OBEY. But I will be present IN SPIRIT. It just BREAKS MY
HEART that you are going SO FAR AWAY. You have always been SO
KIND to me and never hurt my feelings AS SOME DO and I shall miss
you SO MUCH. But I earnestly HOPE AND PRAY that you will be HAPPY
AND PROSPEROUS wherever YOUR LOT IS CAST and not be seasick on THE
GREAT OCEAN. I hope you will find time AMONG YOUR MANY DUTIES to
write me a letter ONCE IN A WHILE. I shall ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU
and please remember me. I hope we WILL MEET AGAIN