第86部分(第5/7 页)

y　once　more　tasting　the　life　his　glance　can　give　me？　I　rave：　perhaps　at　this　moment　he　is　watching　the　sun　rise　over　the　Pyrenees；　or　on　the　tideless　sea　of　the　south。”

I　had　coasted　along　the　lower　wall　of　the　orchard—turned　its　angle：　there　was　a　gate　just　there；　opening　into　the　meadow；　between　two　stone　pillars　crowned　by　stone　balls。　From　behind　one　pillar　I　could　peep　round　quietly　at　the　full　front　of　the　mansion。　I　advanced　my　head　with　precaution；　desirous　to　ascertain　if　any　bedroom　window…blinds　were　yet　drawn　up：　battlements；　windows；　long　front—all　from　this　sheltered　station　were　at　my　mand。

The　crows　sailing　overhead　perhaps　watched　me　while　I　took　this　survey。　I　wonder　what　they　thought。　They　must　have　considered　I　was　very　careful　and　timid　at　first；　and　that　gradually　I　grew　very　bold　and　reckless。　A　peep；　and　then　a　long　stare；　and　then　a　departure　from　my　niche　and　a　straying　out　into　the　meadow；　and　a　sudden　stop　full　in　front　of　the　great　mansion；　and　a　protracted；　hardy　gaze　towards　it。　“What　affectation　of　diffidence　was　this　at　first？”　they　might　have　demanded；　“what　stupid　regardlessness　now？”

Hear　an　illustration；　reader。

A　lover　finds　his　mistress　asleep　on　a　mossy　bank；　he　wishes　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　her　fair　face　without　waking　her。　He　steals　softly　over　the　grass；　careful　to　make　no　sound；　he　pauses—fancying　she　has　stirred：　he　withdraws：　not　for　worlds　would　he　be　seen。　All　is　still：　he　again　advances：　he　bends　above　her；　a　light　veil　rests　on　her　features：　he　lifts　it；　bends　lower；　now　his　eyes　anticipate　the　vision　of　beauty—warm；　and　blooming；　and　lovely；　in　rest。　How　hurried　was　their　first　glance！　But　how　they　fix！　How　he　starts！　How　he　suddenly　and　vehemently　clasps　in　both　arms　the　form　he　dared　not；　a