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Hughie； leaving Ranald and Maimie in the room together。 Ranald had
never been alone with her before； nor indeed had he ever spent five
minutes of his life alone with any girl before now。 But he did not
feel awkward or shy； he was thinking now； as he had been thinking
now and then through the whole evening； of only one thing； that
Maimie was going away。 That would make a great difference to him；
so great that he was conscious of a heart…sinking at the mere
thought of it。 During the last weeks； his life had come to move
about a center； and that center was Maimie； and now that she was
going away； there would be nothing left。 Nothing； that is； that
really mattered。 But the question he was revolving in his mind
was； would she forget all about him。 He knew he would never forget
her； that was； of course； impossible； for so many things would
remind him of her。 He would never see the moonlight falling
through the trees as it fell that night of the sugaring…off；
without thinking of her。 He would never see the shadows in the
evening； or hear the wind in the leaves； without thinking of her。
The church and the minister's pew； the manse and all belonging to
it would remind him of Maimie。 He would recall how she looked at
different times and places； the turn of her head； the way her hair
fell on her neck； her laugh； the little toss of her chin； and the
curve in her lips。 He would remember everything about her。 Would
she remember him； or would she forget him？ That was the question
burning in his heart； and that question he must have settled； and
this was the time。
But though these thoughts and emotions were rushing through his
brain and blood； he felt strangely quiet and self…controlled as he
walked over to her where she stood beside the piano； and looking
into her eyes with an intensity of gaze she could not meet； said；
in a low； quick voice： 〃You are going away？〃
〃Yes；〃 she replied； so startled that the easy smile with which she
had greeted him faded out of her face。 〃In two weeks I shall be
gone。〃
〃Gone！〃 echoed Ranald。 〃Yes； you will be gone。 Will you forget
me？〃 His tone was almost stern。
〃Why； no；〃 she said； in a surprised voice。 〃Of course not。 Did
not you save my life？ You will be far more likely to forget me。〃
〃No；〃 he said； simply； as if that possibility need not be considered。
〃I will never forget you。 I will always be thinking of you。 Will
you think of me？〃 he persisted。
〃Why； certainly。 Wouldn't I be a very ungrateful girl if I did
not？〃
〃Ungrateful！〃 exclaimed Ranald； impatiently。 〃What I did was
nothing。 Forget that。 Do you not understand me？ I will be
thinking of you every day； in the morning and at night； and I never
thought of any one else before for a day。 Will you be thinking of
me？〃
There was a movement in the kitchen； and they could hear the
minister talking to Harry； and some one was moving toward the door。
〃Tell me； Maimie； quick；〃 said Ranald； and though his voice was
intense and stern； there was appeal in it as well。
She took a step nearer him； and looking up into his face； said； in
a whisper； 〃Yes； Ranald； I will always remember you； and think of
you。〃
Swiftly； almost fiercely； he threw his arms about her； and kissed
her lips； then he stood back looking at her。
〃I could not help it；〃 he said； boldly。 〃You made me。〃
〃Made you？〃 exclaimed Maimie； her face hot with blushes。
〃Yes； you made me。 I could not help it；〃 he repeated。 〃And I do
not care if you are angry。 I am glad I did it。〃
〃Glad？〃 echoed Maimie again； not knowing what to say。
〃Yes； glad；〃 he said； exultantly。 〃Are you？〃
She made no reply。 The door opened behind them。 She sank down
upon the piano…stool and let her hands fall upon the keys。
〃Are you？〃 he demanded； ignoring the interruption。
With her head low down； while she struck the chords of the hymn
they had just sung； she said； hesitatingly； 〃I am not sorry。〃
〃Sorry for what？〃 said Harry。
〃Oh； nothing；〃 said Maimie； lightly。
〃Nobody is； if he has got any sense。〃
Then Mrs。 Murray came in。 〃Won't you stay for supper； Ranald？ You
must be hungry。〃
〃No； thank you；〃 said Ranald。 〃I must go now。〃
He shook hands with an ease and freedom that the minister had never
seen in him； and went out。
〃That young man is coming on；〃 said the minister。 〃I never saw any
one change and develop as he has in the last few months。 Let me
see。 He is only eighteen； isn't he； and he might be twenty…one。〃
The minister spoke as if he were not too well pleased with this
precocity in Ranald。
But little did Ranald care。 That young man was striding homeward
through the night； his head striking the stars。 His path lay
through the woods； and when he came to the 〃sugar camp〃 road； he
stood still； and let the memories of the night when he had snatched
Maimie from the fire troop through his mind。 Suddenly he thought
of Aleck McRae； and laughed aloud。
〃Poor Aleck；〃 he said。 Aleck seemed so harmless to him now。 And
then he stood silent； motionless； looking straight toward the
stars； but seeing them not。 He was remembering Maimie's face when
she said； 〃Yes； Ranald； I will always remember you and think of
you〃； and then the thought of what followed； sent the blood jumping
through his veins。
〃She will not forget；〃 he said aloud； and went on his way。 It was
his happy night； the happiest of his life thus far； and he would
always be happy。 What difference could anything make？
CHAPTER XV
THE REVIVAL
Those last days of Maimie's visit sped by on winged feet。 To
Ranald they were brimming with happiness； every one of them。 It
was the slack time of the year； between seeding and harvest； and
there was nothing much to keep him at home。 And so； with Harry；
his devoted companion； Ranald roamed the woods； hitching up Lisette
in Yankee's buckboard； put her through her paces； and would now and
then get up such bursts of speed as took Harry's breath away； and
more than all； there was the chance of a word with Maimie。 He had
lost much of his awkwardness。 He went about with an air of mastery；
and why not？ He had entered upon his kingdom。 The minister noticed
and wondered； his wife noticed and smiled sometimes； but oftener
sighed； wisely keeping silence； for she knew that in times like this
the best words were those unspoken。
The happiest day of all for Ranald was the last； when； after a long
tramp with Harry through the woods； he drove him back to the manse；
coming up from the gate to the door like a whirlwind。
As Lisette stood pawing and tossing her beautiful head； Mrs。
Murray； who stood with Maimie watching them drive up； cried out；
admiringly： 〃What a beauty she is！〃
〃Isn't she！〃 cried Harry； enthusiastically。 〃And such a flyer！
Get in； auntie； and see。〃
〃Do；〃 said Ranald； 〃I would be very glad。 Just to the church hill
and back。〃
〃Go； auntie；〃 pleaded Harry。 〃She is wonderful。〃
〃You go； Maimie；〃 said her aunt； to whom every offered pleasure
simply furnished an opportunity of thought for others。
〃Nonsense！〃 cried Harry； impatiently。 〃You might gratify yourself
a little for once in your life。 Besides；〃 he