Page:The Father Confessor, Stories of Danger and Death.djvu/362

352 into a little wood, and, after some seeking, led the way to the trunk of a fallen tree.

"We will sit down here," he said, "and lean against this old oak; it makes a wonderful seat for two."

Barbara sat beside him, her blood beginning to grow hot in her cheeks. "Does he forget this was where we used to meet long ago?" She looked around sadly, with a vague sense of something lost, Was it love or years? She looked up at him. He was regarding her quietly.

"This was once a bees' nest." He pointed to a deep hole in the trunk of the tree.

"Does he not remember it was our pillar-box?"

She turned away from him angrily.

"Oh, please, tell me why and how you lost the ideal woman, and won't help us in consequence."

"The ideal woman and I were engaged to be married," he said, seating himself and looking away from her. "It was long ago—fifteen years ago, I think." Barbara started and her face changed. "We used to come and sit for hours in the woods talking over