Nettie's smile faded. Her answer didn't please him. Nothing she did pleased him now and something bothered him deeply. She looked away and got to the steps of the presbytery. He said it was all he had to say. She could tell there was more, what did any of this have to do with how he was before and why ask? She surmised that there was more but he did not want to tell her.

She simply nodded and avoided looking at him. She wanted to ask why London? And if he wanted her to go with him. But she already felt, like a large stone settling into her stomach, that he wouldn't say why and he wanted to go without her.

"I understand..." she didn't, but he wouldn't make it any easier if she said so. "If..you need anything, you always know how to find me." She wiped at a tear at the idea he was good as gone and she wasn't supposed to follow. "I hope you write, if you go. Since..I... I'll be worried., "