She had seen David since that day, had even spoken to him. But her
words were few and full of a gracious courtesy that put a whole wide
world between them.
"Are you going to the minister's housewarming, Jocelyn?" David had
asked painfully. He had realized the raw cruelty of that afternoon and
had come over to explain and make amends.
"Yes--I'm going, David. All the town will be there, won't it?" she had
answered and asked gently.
"Shall I stop for you?" begged the big boy.
"Why, no, David--thank you. I shall not need an escort. It's such a
little way and I'm used to Green Valley now." But David knew just how
afraid this city mouse was of the country roads at night.
She was such a gracious little body as she stood there in her garden
that David wondered how he had ever for a moment doubted her and what
madness in his blood had made him yield to the cruelty that had shut
her heart and door to him.
For closed they were and gone was the simple, confiding girl who had
picnicked with him one May day. In her place was this quiet young
woman who talked to him pleasantly but did not ask him in, and who
scared him with her calm and sweetness and drove the stumbling
explanation from his lips.
So Jocelyn was laying out her pretty things and sighing.
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