e found me, to all
appearances, quite absorbed in my companion and oblivious of his
approach. He turned on his heel and went away, nor did he come near me
the rest of the evening.

"I went home angry enough, but so miserable and repentant that if
Miles had been his usual patient self when he called the following
evening I would have begged his forgiveness. But I had gone too far;
his mother was shocked by my gaucherie, and he was humiliated and
justly exasperated. We had a short, bitter quarrel. I said a great
many foolish, unpardonable things, and finally I threw his ring at
him. He gave me a startled look then, in which there was something of
contempt, and went away without another word.

"After my anger had passed, I was wretchedly unhappy. I realized how
unworthily I had acted, how deeply I loved Miles, and how lonely and
empty my life would be without him. But he did not come back, and soon
after I learned he had gone away--whither no one knew, but it was
supposed abroad. Well, I buried my hopes and tears in secret and went
on with my life as people have to do--a life in which I have learned
to think, and which, I hope, has made me nobler and better.

"This summer I came here. I heard much about a certain mysterious
stranger known as 'Young Si' who was fishing mackerel at this shore. I
was very curious. The story sounded romantic, and one evening I went
down to see him. I met him face to face and, Helen, it was Miles
Lesley!

"For one minute earth, sky and sea reeled around me. The next, I
remembered all, and turned and walked away. He did not follow.

"You may be sure that I now religiously avoid that part of the shore.
We have never met since, and he has made no effort to see me. He
clearly shows that he despises me. Well, I despise myself. I am very
unhappy, Nell, and not only on my own account, for I feel that if
Miles had never met me, his mother would not now be breaking her heart
for her absent boy. My sorrow has taught me to understand hers, and I
no longer resent her pride.

"You need hardly be told after this that I leave here in another week.
I cannot fabricate a decent excuse to go sooner, or I would."

In the cool twilight Ethel went with Agnes Bentley to mail her letter.
As they stopped at the door of the little country store, a young man
came around the corner. It was Young Si. He was in his rough fishing
suit, with a big herring net trailing over his shoulder, but no
disguise could effectua