The day preceding Darrell's departure found him busily engaged in
"breaking camp," as he termed it. The assayer's outfit which he had
brought from the mill was to be packed, as were also his books, and
quantities of carefully written notes, the results of his explorations
and experiments, to be embodied later in the work which he had in
preparation, were to be sorted and filed.
Late in the afternoon Kate and her aunt, down town on a shopping tour,
looked in upon him.
"Buried up to his ears!" Kate announced at the door, as she caught a
glimpse of Darrell's head over a table piled high with books and
manuscripts; "it's well we came when we did, auntie; a few minutes later
and he would have been invisible!"
"Don't take the trouble to look for seats, Mr. Darrell," she added, her
eyes dancing with mischief as he hastily emerged and began a futile
search for vacant chairs, "we only dropped in for a minute, and
'standing room only' will be sufficient."
"Yes, don't let us hinder you, Mr. Darrell," said Mrs. Dean; "we just
came in to see how you were getting on, and to tell you not to trouble
yourself about the things from the house; we will send and get them
whenever we want them."
"I was thinking of those a while ago," Darrell answered, glancing at the
pictures and hangings which had not yet been removed; "I was wondering
if I ought not to send them up to the house."
"No," said Mrs. Dean, "we do not need them there at present, and any
time we should want them we can send Bennett down after them."
"We will not send for them at all, auntie," said Kate, in her impulsive
way; "I shall keep the room looking as much as possible as when Mr.
Darrell had it, and I shall use it as a waiting-room whenever I have to
wait for papa; it will be much pleasanter than waiting in that dusty,
musty old office of his."
"My room at the camp will look very bare and plain now," said Darrell,
"after all the luxuries with which you have surrounded me; though I
will, of course, get accustomed to it in a few days."
Kate and her aunt slyly exchanged smiles, which Darrell in his momentary
abstraction failed to observe. They chatted pleasantly for a few
moments, but underneath the light words and manner was a sadness that
could not be disguised, and it was with a still heavier heart that
Darrell returned to his work after Kate and her aunt had gone.
At last all was done, the last package was stowed away in the large
wagon which was to carry the goods to camp, and the team moved up the
street in the direction of The Pines, where it was to remain over night
ready for an early start the next morning. Darrell, after a farewell
survey of the little room, followed on foot, heartsick and weary, going
directly to the stables to see the wagon safely stored for the night. He
was surprised to see a second wagon, loaded with furniture, rugs, and
pictures, all of which looked strangely familiar, and which on closer
inspection he recognized as belonging to the room which he had always
occupied at The Pines. He turned to Bennett, who was standing at a
little distance, ostensibly cleaning some harness, but quietly enjoying
the scene.