it would be better for you to go away for a while."

He told her that he had seen wild geese on the hill.

"And it was from you I heard about the wild geese. You told me the
history of Ireland, sitting on a Druid stone?"

"You want to go, Ned? And the desire to go is as strong in you as in
the wild geese."

"Maybe; but I shall come back, Ellen."

"Do you think you will, Ned? How can you if you go to fight for the
Boers?"

"There's nothing for me to do here. I want new life. It was you who
said that I should go."

"For five years you have been devoted to Ireland, and now you and
Ireland are separated like two ships."

"Yes, like two ships. Ireland is still going Rome-ward, and Rome is not
my way."

"You are the ship, Ned, and you came to harbour in Ireland. But you and
I are like two ships that have lain side by side in the harbour, and
now--"

"And now what, Ellen? Go on!"

"It seemed to me that we were like two ships."

"That is the very thing I was thinking on the hills. The comparison of
two ships rose up in my mind on the hill, and then I remembered a
passage." And when he had repeated it she said:--

"So there is no hope for us on earth. We are but segments of a starry
curve, and must be content with our stellar friendship. But, Ned, we
shall never be enemies on earth. I am not your enemy, and never shall
be. So we have nothing to think of now but our past friendship. The
memory of our past--is all that remains? And it was for that you left
America after the Cuban war? There is our child. You love the little
boy, don't you, Ned?"

"Yes," he said, "I love the little boy.... But you'll bring him up a
Catholic. You'll bring him up to love the things that I hate."

"Let there be no bitterness between us to-night, Ned dear. Let there be
only love. If not love, affection at least. This is our last night."

"How is that?"

"Because, Ned, when one is so bent upon going as you are it is better
he should go at once. I give you your freedom. You can go in the
morning or when you please. But remember, Ned, that you can come back
when you please, that I shall be always glad to see you."

They went up-stairs and looked for some time on the child, who was
sleeping. Ellen took him out of his bed, and she looked very pretty,
Ned thought, holding the half-awakened child, and she kept the little
quilt about him so that he might not catch cold.

He put his hands into his eyes and looked at his father, and then