The hat fell from her knees
as she rose, and both stooped for it.
"Forgive me," he said. "I fear I have startled you."
"I am waiting for papa," she answered, in hasty apology for being found
there. And Lord Hartledon, casting his eyes some considerable distance
ahead, discerned the indistinct forms of two persons talking together. He
understood the situation at once. Dr. Ashton and his daughter had been to
the cottages; and the doctor had halted on their return to speak to a
day-labourer going home from his work, Anne walking slowly on.
And there they stood face to face, Anne Ashton and her deceitful lover!
How their hearts beat to pain, how utterly oblivious they were of
everything in life save each other's presence, how tumultuously confused
were mind and manner, both might remember afterwards, but certainly were
not conscious of then. It was a little glimpse of Eden. A corner of the
dark curtain thrown between them had been raised, and so unexpectedly
that for the moment nothing else was discernible in the dazzling light.
Forget! Not in that instant of sweet confusion, during which nothing
seemed more real than a dream. He was the husband of another; she was
parted from him for ever; and neither was capable of deliberate thought
or act that could intrench on the position, or tend to return, even
momentarily, to the past. And yet there they stood with beating hearts,
and eyes that betrayed their own tale--that the marriage and the parting
were in one sense but a hollow mockery, and their love was indelible as
of old.
Pages:
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403