e off! I wanted to bid you
good-bye--I--I--well, I'm a confounded fool, but I thought I'd like to
see her just once more."

"And those tiresome people are here," said Elizabeth.

"Who do you mean?"

"Oh, Mrs. Harrington and two men she has brought to spend the day--one
of them is the person who checked our horses that day."

"I thought I heard the widow's voice as I came through the hall," said
Tom. "Well, well, it's better so! You see I don't want to make a donkey
of myself."

"Tom, you are the best creature in the world," cried Elizabeth.

"Oh, Lord bless you, no," said Tom, rubbing his forehead in a
disconsolate way; "I ain't good; there's nothing like that about me.
'Pon my word, I'm quite shocked lately to see what an envious,
bad-hearted old wretch I'm getting to be."

"We won't go downstairs yet," said Elizabeth; "sit down here and let's
have a comfortable talk, like old times, Tom."

"Well, no, I guess not, thank you--it's very kind of you," returned he,
getting very red. "You see I can't stay but an hour--I must take the
next train, for I've lots of things to do."

"Oh, I thought you would spend the night."

"Now, don't ask me--I can't--it wouldn't be wise if I could," cried Tom,
giving his hair an unmerciful combing with his fingers.

"No," she replied, regarding him with womanly pity; "perhaps not. And
you would like to go down stairs?"

"I'm a fool to wish it," he answered; "those fine people will only laugh
at me, and I know when I see that magnifico and his popinjay friend
about Elsie I shall want to wring their conceited necks. But I'll
go--oh, it's no use telling lies! You understand just what a fool I
am--I came because I feel as if I must see her once more!"

Tom was twisting his hat in both hands, his features worked in the
attempt he made to control his agitation; but Elizabeth loved him too
well for any notice of his odd manner--she was entirely absorbed in
sympathy for his trouble.

"Oh, Tom, Tom!" she said, "I do hope absence--the change--will do you
good."

"Yes," he broke in, with a strangled whistle that began as a groan;
"yes, of course, thank you--oh, no doubt! You see, there's no knowing
what good may come. But Lord bless you, Bess, if the old ship would only
sink and land me safe as many fathoms under salt water as was
convenient, it would be about the best thing that could happen to me."

"Don't talk so, Tom; you can't think how it pains me."

"Well, I won't--there, I