It was too serious a burden for such a man as he, involved too deep a responsibility; and he meant to shift it.
"Come and walk with me, then," he said, "—or we'll take the punt, if you like."
She nodded brightly, rolled up her knitting, looked around at the ladder in the garden behind her, glanced down at him, which was the shorter way.
"If I jump could you catch me?"
"I suppose I could, but——"
"Look out, then! Garde à vous!"
He managed to catch her and ease her to the ground, and, as always, she took possession of his arm with both of hers clasped closely around it, as though he meditated flight.
"While you are absent," she said, "my thoughts are occupied only with you. When I have you by me"—her clasp tightened a little—"such wonderful ideas come to inspire me—you can't imagine! I aspire to be worthy of such a friendship; I feel that it is in me to be good and wise and lofty of mind, and to think and believe generously.... Do you understand me? ... Petty sorrows vanish—the smaller and selfish desires and aspirations disappear. Into my spirit comes a delicious exultation, as though being with you cleansed my heart and filled my mind with ardent and noble thoughts.... I don't know whether you understand. Do you?"
"I understand that you are a very generous friend, who believes that her new friend is everything with which her youthful heart invests him."
"And you are!"