about the place; fence posts had washed out and let down the wire, a shelter shed roof had to be repaired. The threshing did not bother him; the rain would have stopped that for a while. But he worked in a frenzy of haste. Argue as he would, he knew that Clare's absence would have excited comment, even alarm, and that if the story reached Kay she would know.
He was not so much startled as appalled, then, when on the next day he entered Kay's room, to find Mrs. Mallory in tears and Kay resolutely packing her bag. On the bureau lay a small stack of bills, but he did not see the money at first. He was stricken by the disaster, at the preparations, at Kay's white face and set mouth. He stopped in the doorway; he was trembling, but he controlled his voice.
"Looks like somebody's going somewhere."
"I am, Tom. I'm sorry, but My mother's very ill."
"That's it, is it?"
"That's enough, isn't it?"
"Not if you were going without letting me know."
"I was going to write."
"So I'd get it after you'd gone! I'm much obliged to you."
"I didn't see any use in worrying you about it. I'm going. I have to go."
Mrs. Mallory slipped away then, closing the door behind her. Tom stopped to bolt it and then advanced into the room and took her by the shoulders. His face was very white.
"Now we'll get to the bottom of this," he said. "That about your mother, that's a lie, isn't it?"
"Let go of me, please. You can read the letter if you like. It's on the bureau."
He released her, puzzled.
"And that's all? You haven't any queer ideas in that head of yours?"
"I know you've had Clare Hamel with you for three days, if that's what you want to know."
"Had her with me! Good God!" He laughed bitterly.
