Ralph Henry Barbour

“ I knew you'd find it out sooner or later, and I took the risk; both of us did, sir. Rules are rules, and I don't complain, Mr. Betterlee. I—I only regret—we both of us regrets—having deceived you, sir."
"Hm." Mr. Betterlee understood. As Mayes said, rules were rules, and— But he would be very, very sorry to lose Mayes. Mayes understood him so well. And—and it was a wonderful night!
"It's a bit hard, sir, when you care for a person not being able to—to—" Mayes's voice trailed out into silence. ”

“ Betterlee, hurriedly. "Mayes brought me coffee to the library. I ought not to have taken it."
"No; it always keeps you awake," agreed Mrs. Betterlee.
They paused at the broad stone railing and looked down over the moonlit lawn in silence. The man was visioning a small boy with wet hair ascending to a shed roof by way of a rain-barrel. ”

“ The boy took up the tune and carried it, with some few variations to the end. Then he played it again, more correctly this time; and Mr. Betterlee half closed his eyes and recalled other moonlight nights, nights he had not recalled for many years. And he sighed once or twice not unhappily, but rather wistfully, and awoke to the fact that the tune had ceased and that the boy had stopped in the road.
"Here's where I cut across," he said.
"Cut across?"
"Sure; across the field to the creek. Want to come?"
"Yes," said Mr. Betterlee without hesitation.
"Good for you! You're a sport! ”

“ Then: "Love's something you can't lay under no rule, Mr. Betterlee," said the butler. "If it comes to a person, it comes, sir, and there ain't no help for it. Anyway, what's done is done, and we ain't complaining. Only thing is, sir, if we could have a month to look about— At this time of year places aren't so easy to find, and in the matter of references, I presume you wouldn't care to give 'em, sir.
"I wish you wouldn't go so fast," remonstrated Mr. Betterlee a trifle querulously. "As you say, Mayes, what's done is done, and—er—I'd be sorry to lose you. ”

“ You spoke of it, and quoted some lines—I wish I could recall them—"
"So it was," he said, softly. "Just such a night as this. Yes, yes, I remember very well, my dear." He laid a hand over one of hers that rested on the railing.
"Why, how cool your hand is!" she exclaimed. ”