He
had no reason to suppose that this day more than another he would find
her, but there, half a mile from White Farm, he came upon her,
standing, watching a lintwhite's nest. They walked together, and when
that little, right-angled, infant fellow of the glen opened to them
they turned and followed its bright rivulet to the green hidden
hollow.
The earth lay warm and dry, clad with short turf. They sat down
beneath an oak-tree. None would come this way; they had to themselves
a bright span of time and place. Elspeth looked at him with brown,
friendly eyes. Each time she met him her eyes grew more kind; more and
more she liked the laird. Something fluttered in her nature; like a
bird in a room with many windows and all but one closed, it turned now
this way, now that, seeking the open lattice. There was the lovely
world--which way to it? And the window that in a dream had seemed to
her to open was mayhap closed, and another that she had not noted
mayhap opening.... But Glenfernie, winged, was in that world, and now
all that he desired was that the bright bird should fly to him there.
But until to-day patience and caution and much humility had kept him
from direct speech. He knew that she had not loved, as he had done, at
once. He had set himself to win her to love him. But so great was his
passion that now he thought:
"Surely not one, but two as one, make this terrible and happy
furnace!" He thought, "I will speak now," and then delayed over the
words.
Pages:
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117