t think you understand me," she said.

He stood awed before what he now saw. It was as though he were looking
at a naked soul.

"I do not think you understand," she continued, lifting her head a
little. "You will not go, because there can be no call so great as
that which bids you stay."

He answered, "My master is the master of us all."

"Then," she returned, "I too must go to meet your master. He must
claim us both."

"God forbid," he exclaimed.

"You talk of masters," she ran on more excitedly, "and you are only a
man. We women have a master greater than any you know. You taught me
a moment ago to be direct--to be honest. It is so I must be with you
now. I must be brave," her voice trembled a little, "I must stand face
to face with you. Oh, if you were not so unselfish--so unseeing, you
would not make me do this!"

He stood speechless--his throat aching the length of it.

"You treat me like a child, when you have made me a woman! You treat
me like a weakling, when you have given me strength! You tell me you
have some great trouble and then you refuse to allow me to share it!
Don't you see?"

Her face was transfigured by pure white courage. He trembled before
it. Yet he only gripped himself the firmer and stood before her
immovable, every word she spoke leaving a red welt upon his soul.

"Peter," she trembled, not in fright but because of her overflowing
heart, "you have shown me the wonder of life during this last week.
You have taken me by the hand and have led me out of the gray barren
land into the flowers and perfume of the orchard. You have done for me
as you did for Ben. Why should I be ashamed to say this? I would not
measure up to you if I kept silent now and let you go alone. I am not
ashamed."

To himself he said,

"God give me courage to stand firm."

"You make it harder for me when you say nothing."

"I must not listen!"

"Don't keep me in the dark," she pleaded. "Don't send me back alone
into the dark. It's being alone that hurts."

To himself he said,

"God keep me from telling her. God keep me from letting her know of my
love. So it is best."

"Don't you see now?"

Again that phrase of his which had come back through Arsdale's lips to
scorch him.

All he could say aloud was,

"I must go, and if I can, I will come back."

"I mean nothing to you if I cannot help you now," she said steadily.
"If the road were smooth to you do you think I could tell you wh