Page:George Weston--The apple-tree girl.djvu/151

 "Say, Charlotte," he said at last, "I think a lot of you; do you know it?"

"You shouldn't," she hurriedly answered.

"Shouldn't I? Why not?"

"Because I'm going home this afternoon—for good."

"For good?" he asked, looking puzzled at her emphasis. "What for?"

Those midnight fears came crowding forward for expression; but midnight fears are not to be lightly related when the sun is shining and a disputatious young man is waiting, frowning, to contradict every word you say.

"What for?" he repeated.

"Oh, I don't know."

"But I want to know!"

"Well, for one thing," said Charlotte, "I'm happier up there and more useful. Down here, it's like a vacation all the time and, though I don't pretend to know an awful lot, I'm sure that life ought to mean more than that. Then