"
The sunlight filled the hollow, the wimpling burn took the blue of the
sky, the breeze whispered among the oak leaves. The two sat and gazed
at the day, at the grass, at the little thorn-trees and hazels that
ringed the place around. They sat very still, seeking composure. She
gained it first.
"When will your sister be coming home?"
"It is not settled. Glenfernie House was sad of late years. She ought
to have the life and brightness that she's getting now."
"And will you travel no more?"
He saw as in a lightning glare that she pictured no change for him
beyond such as being laird would make. He was glad when the flash went
and he could forget what it had of destructive and desolating. He
would drag hope down from the sky above the sky of lightnings. He
spoke.
"There were duties now to be taken up. I could not stay away all nor
most nor much of the time. I saw that. But I could study here, and
once in a while run somewhere over the earth.... But now I would stay
in this dale till I die! Unless you were with me--the two of us going
to see the sights of the earth, and then returning home--going and
returning--going and returning--and both a great sweetness--"
"Oh!" breathed Elspeth. She put her hands again over her eyes, and she
saw, unrolling, a great fair life _if_--_if_--She rose to her feet.
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