And now I really must run back.

I've promised to take charge of the babies this afternoon.
Good-bye!" She held out her hand to him with frank friendliness, as if she divined the sympathy he did not utter.
He gripped it hard for a moment.

"Thanks awfully for being so decent as to tell me!" he said, looking back at her with eyes as frank as her own.
"I'm going on down to the home farm.

Good-bye!" He raised his cap, and abruptly strode away.

And in the moment of his going Avery found she liked him better than she had liked him throughout the interview, for she knew quite well that he went only in deference to her wish.
She turned to retrace her steps, feeling puzzled.