Good-by." "Good-by," said Claudia, and gave him her hand again, her heart full of pity and almost of love.

He turned on his heel, and she stood and watched him go.

For a moment a sudden thought flashed through her head.
"Shall I call him back?
Shall I ever find such love as his ?" She started a step forward, but stopped again.
"No, I do not love him," she said.

"And I do love my careless Eugene.
But God comfort him! O God, comfort him!" And so standing and praying for him, she let him go.
And he went, with no falter in his step and never a look backward.

This thing also had he set behind him.
Claudia still stood fixed on the spot where he had left her.