Yet now it
had all at once become of moment that she should know. 'Be a good
girl.' She repeated the words over and over again, and made much of
them. Perhaps she had given him no opportunity, no encouragement, to
say all he felt; she knew him to be reserved in many things.
As she entered the house the dizziness again troubled her. But it
passed as before.
Mr. Keene, who had stayed over-night, was waiting to take leave of
her; the trap which would carry him to Agworth station had just
driven up. Adela surprised the poor journalist by the warmth with
which she shook his hand, and the kindness of her farewell. She was
not deceived as to the motive of his visit, and just now she allowed
herself to feel sympathy for him, though in truth she did not like
the man.
This morning she could not settle to her work. The dreaming mood was
upon her, and she appeared rather to encourage it, seeking a quiet
corner of the garden and watching for a whole hour the sun-dappled
trunk of a great elm. At times her face seemed itself to be a source
of light, so vivid were the thoughts that transformed it Her eyes
were moist once or twice, and then no dream of artist-soul ever
embodied such passionate loveliness, such holy awe, as came to view
upon her countenance. At lunch she was almost silent, but Alice,
happening to glance at her, experienced a surprise; she had never
seen Adela so beautiful and so calmly bright.
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