The child opened the door (now guarded by a shutter which I had heard the boy put up before he left the house) and with another farewell whose clear and tender note I have recalled a thousand times, held it until we had passed out.

The old man paused a moment while it was gently closed and fastened on the inside, and satisfied that this was done, walked on at a slow pace.

At the street-corner he stopped, and regarding me with a troubled countenance said that our ways were widely different and that he must take his leave.

I would have spoken, but summoning up more alacrity than might have been expected in one of his appearance, he hurried away.

I could see that twice or thrice he looked back as if to ascertain if I were still watching him, or perhaps to assure himself that I was not following at a distance.