Country life -- England -- Fiction; England -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
The log cabin was roughly furnished. Not much more would have been
required if it had really been the home of a pioneer. Harry and Viola
had played with the idea of living together in such a cabin, with a new
beautiful world to be tamed all around them, and this as the nest of
their love and companionship. So he had played with the children, but
Viola’s presence had given their cabin a wonderful romantic charm which
it had never had and which it would never lose. Her presence would
illumine every place in which she might rest. Harry’s old castle was
still in shadow because she had not yet visited it.
It was the morning of the day upon which Wilbraham was to take tea with
Bastian, and Viola was to be there to be exhibited to him. Harry had
been concerned at hearing that he had already been to the cottage.
"He has said nothing about it at home," he said. "This morning at
breakfast he did say that he had thought of going to see your father
this afternoon, but that it looked like raining all day. What does it
mean?"
"Nothing very dreadful," said Viola. "He and father seem to have got on
very well together yesterday, but perhaps he wasn’t quite sure enough of
him to ask him to the Castle. Perhaps he wants to see what I’m like
first."
Harry threw her a quick loving look. They were sitting together on a
bench underneath the eaves of the hut. They might not have been taken
for lovers by anyone who had seen them; their caresses were rarer than
might have been expected, fathoms deep in love with one another as they
were; but looks and smiles flashed between them like summer lightning,
and scarcely the lightest word was spoken without emotion.
"When he sees you," Harry began; but she interrupted him. "Father
doesn’t want to go if he does ask us," she said. "And I couldn’t go,
Harry dear. I love you so much that I couldn’t keep it back. I’m
afraid I shan’t be able to keep it back this afternoon from Mr.
Wilbraham, if he says anything about you."
"I’ve asked myself sometimes," Harry said, thoughtfully, "whether it’s
right to keep it back. You’re so much above everybody else in the
world, Viola, that——"
Again she interrupted him. "Harry darling," she said, "I’ve thought
about it too. There are lots of things that I know about in the world
that you don’t. I only want to forget them while I’m here with you; and
I can’t if other people know how much I love you, and that you love me.
They wouldn’t let us forget them."
"What sort of things, Viola dear? I’m not a child, though perhaps they
have tried to keep me one for too long, at home. I’m going to take care
of you, for all our lives. I ought to know as much as you do."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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