One can not talk everlastingly about ferns , so they got up and went home . Katherine wrote a particularly affectionate letter to Ned that night . Then she went to bed and cried . When Professor Keith came up to bid Miss Rangely good-bye on the eve of her departure from Harbour Hill , he looked like a man who was being led to execution without benefit of clergy . But he kept himself well in hand and talked calmly on impersonal subjects . After all , it was Katherine who made the first break when she got up to say good-bye . She was in the middle of some conventional sentence when she suddenly stopped short , and her voice trailed off in a babyish quiver . The professor put out his arm and drew her close to him . His hat dropped under their feet and was trampled on , but I doubt if Professor Keith knows the difference to this day , for he was fully absorbed in kissing Katherine 's hair . When she became cognizant of this fact , she drew herself away . `` Oh , Sidney , do n't ! -- think of Edith ! I feel like a traitor . '' `` Do you think she would care very much if I -- if you -- if we -- '' hesitated the professor . `` Oh , it would break her heart , '' cried Katherine with convincing earnestness . `` I know it would -- and Ned 's too . They must never know . '' The professor stooped and began hunting for his maltreated hat . He was a long time finding it , and when he did he went softly to the door . With his hand on the knob , he paused and looked back .
`` Good-bye , Miss XXXXX , '' he said softly .
Edith Hill Katherine Keith Ned Rangely Sidney first night quiver