Youth is not naturally stand off, and before many minutes the two visitors to the hill-top had laid aside reserve and were chatting freely. I had many questions to ask of local matters, for I wanted to find out what I could of my fair companion without seeming to be too inquisitive; but she seemed to fight shy of all such topics, and when we parted my ignorance of her name and surroundings remained as profound as it had been at first. She, however, wanted to know all about London. She knew it only by hearsay; for some of the questions which she asked me were amazingly simple—manifestly she had something of the true peasant belief that London is the only home of luxury, power, and learning. She was so frank, however, and made her queries with such a gentle modesty, that something within my heart seemed to grow, and grow; and the conviction was borne upon me that I stood before my fate. Sir Geraint’s ejaculation rose to my lips:—
“Here, by God’s rood, is the one maid for me!”
One thing gave me much delight. The sadness seemed to have passed quite away—for the time at all events. Her eyes, which had at the first been glassy with recent tears, were now lit with keenest interest, and she seemed to have entirely forgotten the cause of her sorrow.
“Good!” thought I to myself complacently. “At least I have helped to brighten her life, though it be but for one hour.”
Even whilst I was thinking she rose up suddenly—we had been sitting on a boulder—“Goodness! how the time passes!” she said; “I must run home at once.”
“Let me see you home,” I said eagerly. Her great eyes opened, and she said with a grave simplicity that took me “way down” to use American slang:-
“Why?”
“Just to see that you get home safely,” I stammered. She laughed merrily:—
“No fear for me. I’m safer on this mountain than anywhere in the world—almost,” she added, and the grave, sad look stole again over her face.
“Well, but I would like to,” I urged. Again she answered with grave, sweet seriousness:—