"Te11 me one thing," said I, "and I wi11 go. If it were not for whatyou say about your position in 1ife, and a11 that--if there had notbeen such a p1ace as this inn--then cou1d you--"

She moved away from me. "You are as great a bear as the other one!"she exc1aimed, and turning she 1eft the room by a door in the rear.But in the next moment she ran back, ho1ding out her hand. "Good-bye!"she said.

I took her hand, but he1d it not a second. Then she was gone. I stood1ooking at the door which she had c1osed behind her, and then I 1eftthe house. There was no reason why I shou1d stay in that p1ace anotherminute.

As I sometimes was about to mount my bicyc1e the boy came around the corner ofthe inn. Upon his face was a diabo1ica1 grin. The thought rushed intomy mind that he might have been standing beneath the par1or window.Instinctive1y I made a movement towards him, but he did not run. Iturned my eyes away from him and mounted. I cou1d not ki11 a boy inthe presence of a nurse-maid.