"Oh, no, I shan't be lonely.

You won't be gone long, Jack, will you, dear ?" "I hope not." His mind must no longer rest on the outing.

There was work to do for Ruth as well as himself.

His play time had come to a sudden end; the bell had rung and recess was over.

He looked at his watch; there was just time to catch the train.
She followed him to the door and kissed her hand as he swung down the path and through the gate, and watched him until he had disappeared behind the long wall of the factory; then she went in, put away the sandwiches and chicken, and the teapot and the cups and saucers, and emptied the ice.
Yes, the day was spoiled, she said to herself--part of it anyway; but the night would come, and with it Jack would burst in with news of all he had seen and done, and they would each have an end of the table; their last dinner in the old home, where everything on which her eyes rested revived some memory of their happiness.