She had never met Spencer since the night she went after him . She sometimes wondered what he must think of her for what she had done . Did he think her unwomanly and revengeful ? She did not care . It was rather a relief to hear that he was going away . She would not be tortured by the fear of meeting him then . She was sure he would never come back to her . If he did , she would never forgive him . One evening in early harvest Estella was lingering by the lane gate at twilight . She had worked slavishly all day and was very tired , but she was loath to go into the house , where her trouble always seemed to weigh on her more heavily . The dusk , sweet night seemed to soothe her as it always did . She leaned her head against the poplar by the gate . How long Spencer Morgan had been standing by her she did not know , but when she looked up he was there . In the dim light she could see how haggard and hollow-eyed he had grown . He had changed almost as much as herself . The girl 's first proud impulse was to turn coldly away and leave him . But some strange tumult in her heart kept her still . What had he come to say ? There was a moment 's fateful silence . Then Spencer spoke in a muffled voice .
`` I could n't go away without seeing you once more , Estella , XXXXX say good-bye .
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