May saw them in the garden and came to them. Scent of honeysuckle…fragrance of fern…breath of tea-roses, were all drowned in the wave of cheap perfume that preceded her. She greeted Hilary very gushingly and looked vicious over his cool courtesy. Hilary had never liked May and he was not going to pretend pleasure over meeting her again. May gave one of her nasty little laughs.

“I suppose I’m a crowd,” she remarked. “Isn’t it…lucky…David isn’t home, Pat?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” said Pat icily…knowing perfectly.

“Of course Pat has told you of her engagement to David Kirk,” May said maliciously, turning to Hilary. “He’s really quite a nice old chap, you know. Such a pity you couldn’t have met him.”

Nobody spoke. May, having gratified her spite, went into the house. Pat shivered again. Everything was spoiled. Suddenly Hilary seemed very remote…as remote as those dark firs spiring above the silver birches.

“Is this true, Pat?” he asked in a low tone.

Pat nodded. She could not speak.

Hilary took her hand.

“As an old friend there is no happiness I don’t wish you, dear. You know that, don’t you?”

“Of course. “ Pat tried to speak lightly…airily. “And I return your good wishes, Hilary. We…we heard of your engagement last year.”

She thought miserably, “I’m simply not going to let him off with it. I would have told him about David…if he had told me….”

“My engagement?” Hilary laughed slightly. “I’m not engaged. Oh, I know there was some silly gossip about me and Anna Loveday. Her brother is a great friend of mine and I’m going into his firm when I go back. Anna’s a sweet thing and has her own ‘beau’ as Judy would say. There’s only one girl in my life…and you know who she is, Pat. I didn’t think there was any hope for me but I felt I must come and see.”

“You’ll find…someone yet.”

“No…you’ve spoiled me for loving anyone else. There’s only one you.”

Pat said nothing more…there did not seem anything she could say.

They went into the kitchen for a parting hour before Hilary must leave for the boat train. They were all there…Judy, Rae, Sid, and Long Alec. Even mother had stayed up late to say good-bye. It should have been a merry evening. Judy was in great fettle and told some of her inimitable tales. Hilary laughed with the others but there was no mirth in his laughter. Pat had one of her dismal moments of feeling that she would never laugh again.

She and Judy stood together at the door and watched Hilary go across the yard to his waiting car.