And the vision too of Maud crossed his mind--
a perfectly beautiful thing, which had risen like a star. He did
not think of it as love at all--that did not cross his mind--it was
just the thought of something enchantingly and exquisitely
beautiful, which disturbed him, awed him, threw his mind off its
habitual track. How extraordinarily lovely, simple, sweet, the girl
had seemed to him in the dim room, in the faint light; and how
fearless and frank she had been! He was conscious only of something
adorable, which raised, as beautiful things did, a sense of
something unapproachable, some yearning which could not be
satisfied. How far away, how faded and dusty his ordinary contented
Cambridge life now seemed to him!
He breakfasted alone, read a few letters which had been forwarded
to him, and went to the library. A few minutes later Miss Merry
tapped at the door, and came in.
"Mrs. Graves asked me to say--she was sorry she forgot to mention
it--that if you care for shooting or fishing, the keeper will come
in and take your orders. She thinks you might like to ask Jack to
luncheon and go out with him; she sends you her love, and wants you
to do what you like."
"Thank you very much!" said Howard, "I rather expect Jack will be
round here and I will ask him. I know he would like it, and I
should too--if you are sure Mrs. Graves approves."
"Oh, yes," said Miss Merry, smiling, "she always approves of people
doing what they like.
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