did to-night, it's a real hardship. Have a drink with me before I go
on?"

"Thanks," said Peter pleasantly, "but I'm in a bit of a hurry. I've
got to pack up. I'm leaving town in the morning."

"Leaving town? For a vacation?"

"No, for work. I've had a job offered me in New York. Brentwood, of
the Brentwood Publishing Company, has been asking me to come to them
for years, and I've finally decided to go."

"High-brows, aren't they--the Brentwood Company?" Ted questioned,
somewhat impressed.

"Perhaps you'd call them so. They publish real literature--a good many
translations; that's what they want me for."

"Well, well," pursued Ted, still detaining him, "and so you're going to
leave little old Shadyville for good! And after spending all your days
here, too--after making so many friends. I believe you'll miss us,
Burnett!"

"I'm sure I shall," agreed Peter, with patient courtesy.

"Then why go? It may be a good change for you in ways, but I'm
convinced there's more to be said against it than for it. For the life
of me, I can't see why you're doing it."

"No," said Peter, a little drily, "you wouldn't see, Kent. But I'm
sure it's the only thing to do. Tell Sheila I think so, please, and
that I send her my good-byes."

"You aren't going to tell her good-bye yourself?"

"I'm afraid I can't." And as Peter spoke, he was acutely conscious of
all that Ted did not see, of all that he would never understand. "I'm
afraid I can't--I start early in the morning."

"All right! You know what's best for yourself, no doubt. Sorry you
can't say good-bye to Sheila, though--she cares a lot for you, as much
as if you were one of the family. I'll give her your message, but
she'll be disappointed that you didn't deliver it yourself. Good luck
to you, old man, and don't forget us!" And shaking hands again, Ted
went cheerfully on his homeward way, serenely unaware of the
sorrow--and of the irony!--that had confronted him from Peter's quiet
eyes.

Up in his little room, Peter began to carry out his sudden plan for
leaving Shadyville. It was true that he had had an offer, more than
once, from Brentwood. Brentwood had been a chum of his at college, a
friend who had never ceased to remember and appreciate him. The offer
was still open, and it solved Peter's problem. He had told Sheila that
he would marry Charlotte or do something else that would answer as
well. He found that something else in going away.