As she lifted the latch she looked back and saw Adam drop heavily into the chair upon which he had leaned for so long.

His attitude was one of almost stubborn patience, but it was evident that her presence had ceased to count with him.

He was waiting--she saw it clearly in every line of him--waiting to bid his boy Godspeed ere he fared forth finally on the long voyage from which there is no return.
A sharp sob rose in her throat.

She caught her hand to it, forcing it back.

Then, barefooted, she stepped out into the grey dimness that veiled all things, and left the door of Rufus's cottage open behind her..