care to?"

"I dropped in on my way down just to have a word with you, Spike."

With dragging feet Spike led the way into the sitting room, where lay
his breakfast, scarcely tasted.

"Sit down, Geoff, I--I want to apologise," said the lad, toying
nervously with his teaspoon. "I guess you think I'm a mean, low-down
sort o' guy, an' you're right, only I--I feel worse 'n you think. An'
say, Geoff, if I--if I said anything th' other night, I want you
to--forget it, will you?"

"Why, of course, Spike."

"Hermy's forgiven me. I--I've promised to work hard an' do what she
wants."

"I'm glad of that, Spike!"

"She came creepin' into my room this mornin' before she went, but--me
thinkin' she meant to give me a last call down--I pretended t' be
asleep, so she just sighed an' went creepin' out again an' wrote me
this," and Spike drew a sheet of crumpled note paper from his pocket and
handed it to Ravenslee, who read these words:

Boy dear, I love you so much that if you destroyed my love, I
think you would destroy me too. Now I must leave you to go to my work,
but you will go to yours, won't you--for my sake and for your sake and
because I love you so. Be good and strong and clean, and if you want some