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what。 Half…past five o'clock camethe end of Springrove's official
day。 Two minutes later Springrove walked by。
She endured her solitude for another half…hour； and then could
endure no longer。 She had hopedwhile affecting to fearthat
Edward would have found some reason or other for calling； but it
seemed that he had not。 Hastily dressing herself she went out； when
the farce of an accidental meeting was repeated。 Edward came upon
her in the street at the first turning； and； like the Great Duke
Ferdinand in 'The Statue and the Bust'
'He looked at her as a lover can；
She looked at him as one who awakes
The past was a sleep； and her life began。'
'Shall we have a boat？' he said impulsively。
How blissful it all is at first。 Perhaps； indeed； the only bliss in
the course of love which can truly be called Eden…like is that which
prevails immediately after doubt has ended and before reflection has
set inat the dawn of the emotion； when it is not recognized by
name； and before the consideration of what this love is； has given
birth to the consideration of what difficulties it tends to create；
when on the man's part； the mistress appears to the mind's eye in
picturesque； hazy； and fresh morning lights； and soft morning
shadows； when； as yet； she is known only as the wearer of one dress；
which shares her own personality； as the stander in one special
position； the giver of one bright particular glance； and the speaker
of one tender sentence； when； on her part； she is timidly careful
over what she says and does； lest she should be misconstrued or
under…rated to the breadth of a shadow of a hair。
'Shall we have a boat？' he said again； more softly； seeing that to
his first question she had not answered； but looked uncertainly at
the ground； then almost； but not quite； in his face； blushed a
series of minute blushes； left off in the midst of them； and showed
the usual signs of perplexity in a matter of the emotions。
Owen had always been with her before； but there was now a force of
habit in the proceeding； and with Arcadian innocence she assumed
that a row on the water was； under any circumstances； a natural
thing。 Without another word being spoken on either side； they went
down the steps。 He carefully handed her in； took his seat； slid
noiselessly off the sand； and away from the shore。
They thus sat facing each other in the graceful yellow cockle…shell；
and his eyes frequently found a resting…place in the depths of hers。
The boat was so small that at each return of the sculls； when his
hands came forward to begin the pull； they approached so near to her
that her vivid imagination began to thrill her with a fancy that he
was going to clasp his arms round her。 The sensation grew so strong
that she could not run the risk of again meeting his eyes at those
critical moments； and turned aside to inspect the distant horizon；
then she grew weary of looking sideways； and was driven to return to
her natural position again。 At this instant he again leant forward
to begin； and met her glance by an ardent fixed gaze。 An
involuntary impulse of girlish embarrassment caused her to give a
vehement pull at the tiller…rope； which brought the boat's head
round till they stood directly for shore。
His eyes； which had dwelt upon her form during the whole time of her
look askance； now left her； he perceived the direction in which they
were going。
'Why； you have completely turned the boat； Miss Graye？' he said；
looking over his shoulder。 'Look at our track on the watera great
semicircle； preceded by a series of zigzags as far as we can see。'
She looked attentively。 'Is it my fault or yours？' she inquired。
'Mine； I suppose？'
'I can't help saying that it is yours。'
She dropped the ropes decisively； feeling the slightest twinge of
vexation at the answer。
'Why do you let go？'
'I do it so badly。'
'O no； you turned about for shore in a masterly way。 Do you wish to
return？'
'Yes； if you please。'
'Of course； then； I will at once。'
'I fear what the people will think of usgoing in such absurd
directions； and all through my wretched steering。'
'Never mind what the people think。' A pause。 'You surely are not
so weak as to mind what the people think on such a matter as that？'
Those words might almost be called too firm and hard to be given by
him to her； but never mind。 For almost the first time in her life
she felt the charming sensation； although on such an insignificant
subject； of being compelled into an opinion by a man she loved。
Owen； though less yielding physically； and more practical； would not
have had the intellectual independence to answer a woman thus。 She
replied quietly and honestlyas honestly as when she had stated the
contrary fact a minute earlier
'I don't mind。'
'I'll unship the tiller that you may have nothing to do going back
but to hold your parasol；' he continued； and arose to perform the
operation； necessarily leaning closely against her； to guard against
the risk of capsizing the boat as he reached his hands astern。 His
warm breath touched and crept round her face like a caress； but he
was apparently only concerned with his task。 She looked guilty of
something when he seated himself。 He read in her face what that
something wasshe had experienced a pleasure from his touch。 But
he flung a practical glance over his shoulder； seized the oars； and
they sped in a straight line towards the shore。
Cytherea saw that he noted in her face what had passed in her heart；
and that noting it； he continued as decided as before。 She was
inwardly distressed。 She had not meant him to translate her words
about returning home so literally at the first； she had not intended
him to learn her secret； but more than all she was not able to
endure the perception of his learning it and continuing unmoved。
There was nothing but misery to come now。 They would step ashore；
he would say good…night； go to London to…morrow； and the miserable
She would lose him for ever。 She did not quite suppose what was the
fact； that a parallel thought was simultaneously passing through his
mind。
They were now within ten yards； now within five； he was only now
waiting for a 'smooth' to bring the boat in。 Sweet； sweet Love must
not be slain thus； was the fair maid's reasoning。 She was equal to
the occasionladies areand delivered the god
'Do you want very much to land； Mr。 Springrove？' she said； letting
her young violet eyes pine at him a very； very little。
'I？ Not at all；' said he； looking an astonishment at her inquiry
which a slight twinkle of his eye half belied。 'But you do？'
'I think that now we have come out； and it is such a pleasant
evening；' she said gently and sweetly； 'I should like a little
longer row if you don't mind？ I'll try to steer better than before
if it makes it easier for you。 I'll try very hard。'
It was the turn of his face to tell a tale now。 He looked； 'We
understand each otherah； we do； darling！' turned the boat； and
pulled back into the Bay once more。
'Now steer wherever you will；' he said； in a low voice。 'Never mind
the directness of the coursewherever you