His face was pale and grave.
"Well," said she finally, as the great coach drove around to the door, "I suppose I am to say good-by." "I'll just walk with you down the road," he answered.

"We walked up it, once, together." They followed on, after the coach had passed down the driveway, Dunwody now moody and silent, his head dropped, his hands behind him, until the carriage pulled up and waited at the end of the shut-in at the lower end of the valley.

Josephine herself remained silent as well, but as the turn of the road approached which would cut off the view of Tallwoods, she turned impulsively and waved a hand in farewell at the great mansion house which lay back, silent and strong, among the hills.
[Illustration: She waved a hand in farewell.] He caught the gesture and looked at her quickly.

"That's nice of you," said he, "mighty nice." In some new sort of half-abashment she found no immediate reply.
He left her then, and walked steadily back up the driveway, saying nothing in farewell, and not once looking back.

For a time she followed him with her gaze, a strange sinking at her heart of which she was ashamed, which gave her alike surprise and sudden fear.
It was a much abashed and still tearful though not a repentant Jeanne who embraced her mistress, after the simple little wedding of Jeanne and Hector, when they had repaired to the wedding feast at the _maison_ Fournier.
"But come, Madame," said Jeanne.