“Always I know how little severs me
From mine heart’s country, that is yet so far;
And I must lean and long across a bar
That half a word would shatter utterly.
“Ah! might it be, that just by touch of hand
Or speaking silence, shall the barrier fall;
And she shall pass, with no vain words at all,
But droop into mine arms and understand.”
The motor came to a standstill, and Claudia shook herself free from the spell of his words. There are few men who can quote poetry without divesting it of all lyrical charm and naturalness, but Frank Hamilton knew or had acquired the art. Then, as though the quotation were some nursery jingle, his voice altered, and he said, “Heigh ho! is this the house? What is my hostess like? Hints, please. I meant to have asked you before.”