ied to you!" she cried, so passionately that he leaped to his feet
and stared down on her. "I said it. I remember. But I lied. I was
punishing myself because I had been selfish about you. But I didn't
believe what I was saying--not deep in my heart. I wanted you to say you
wouldn't go--but I didn't want you to look back ever and blame me for my
selfishness. You see now how wicked and wrong and weak I am. I didn't
want the world to take you away from--from us up here: from the woods
and the plain folks. You'll hate me now. But I have to be truthful with
you!" Her voice broke.

"The world has not won me away from my friends, dear. You must know me
too well for that suspicion to shame me."

She crouched on the step before him. Her hands, fingers interlaced,
gripped each other hard to quiet their trembling. In her girlish
frailness, as she bent above her clasped hands, huddled there in the
black shadow of the porch, she seemed pitifully little and helpless and
forsaken. The woe in her tones thrilled him. She was trying hard to
control her voice.

"You see, Harlan, I can look ahead and understand how it will be. A
woman does understand such things. That's the awful thing about being a
woman--and looking ahead and knowing how it must be before it ever
happens!"

"Before what happens, Clare? I'm trying hard to understand you."

He leaned forward, and could see her eyes. He had seen that look in the
eyes of a stricken doe.

"The world is all outside of this place, Harlan. You know we have always
spoken of all other places than this as 'outside.' You have stepped
through the great door. Now you see. You can't help seeing. It's all
outspread before you. No one can blame you for not looking back here
into the shadows. The great light is all ahead. I am--I ought not to
speak about myself. I have no right to. But you'll forgive me. I didn't
have any one to tell me! I didn't have any mother to advise me. I have
played through all the long days, I don't know anything. Other girls--"

"Clare! God save you, little Clare--don't--don't!" he pleaded.

"You have been away only a few days, and yet you have found out the
difference. You told me about her. She is beautiful, and she is wise.
She has not wasted the long days. She can help you with knowledge. She
can--"

He put out his arms and tried to take her, cursing himself for his
thoughtless cruelty. Infinite pity and something else--fervent, hungry
desire to clasp her overmaste