The whole soul of the girl rose
to clasp and to greet his, in that blest fusion of life which seems
to have nothing hidden or held back. She made him tell her over and
over again the sweet story of his love.
"What COULD I do?" she said. "Why, when I was at Cambridge that
week, I didn't dare to claim your time and thought. Why CAN'T one
make oneself understood? Why, my one hope, all that time, was just
for the minutes I got with you; and yet I thought it wasn't fair
not to try to seem amused; then I saw you were vexed at something--
vexed that I should want to talk to you--what a WRETCHED business!"
"Never mind all that now, child," said Howard, "it's a perfect
nightmare. Why can't one be simple? Why, indeed? and even now, I
simply can't believe it--oh, the wretched hours when I thought you
were drifting away from me; do men and women indeed miss their
chances so? If I had but known! Yet, I must tell you this--when I
first came to this spring here, I thought it held a beautiful
secret for me--something which had been in my life from
everlasting. It was so, and this was what it held for me."
The afternoon sped swiftly away, and the shadow of the western
downs fell across the pool. An immense and overpowering joy filled
Howard's heart, and the silent world took part in his ecstasy.
"You remember that first day?" said Maud. "I had felt that day as
if some one was coming to me from a long way off drawing nearer.
Pages:
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211