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would never end。 But at last it hasvery nearly。 I have thought
a great deal about the Tyrol。 It was a lovely timethe loveliest
time I have ever had。 And now it's over； I try to console myself
by thinking of the future； but not the immediate futureTHAT is
not very enjoyable。 I wonder how the mountains are looking to…day。
Please give my love to them； especially the lion ones that come and
lie out in the moonlightyou will not recognize them from this〃
then followed a sketch。 〃And this is the church we went to； with
someone kneeling。 And this is meant for the 'English Grundys；'
looking at someone who is coming in very late with an alpenstock
only； I am better at the 'English Grundys' than at the person with
the alpenstock。 I wish I were the 'English Grundys' now； still in
the Tyrol。 I hope I shall get a letter from you soon； and that it
will say you are getting ready to come back。 My guardian will be
awfully keen for you to come and stay with us。 He is not half bad
when you know him； and there will be his sister； Mrs。 Doone； and
her daughter left there after the wedding。 It will be simply
disgusting if you and Mr。 Stormer don't come。 I wish I could write
all I feel about my lovely time in the Tyrol； but you must please
imagine it。〃
And just as he had not known how to address her； so he could not
tell how to subscribe himself； and only put 〃Mark Lennan。〃
He posted the letter at Exeter； where he had some time to wait； and
his mind moved still more from past to future。 Now that he was
nearing home he began to think of his sister。 In two days she
would be gone to Italy； he would not see her again for a long time；
and a whole crowd of memories began to stretch out hands to him。
How she and he used to walk together in the walled garden； and on
the sunk croquet ground； she telling him stories； her arm round his
neck； because she was two years older； and taller than he in those
days。 Their first talk each holidays； when he came back to her；
the first teawith unlimited jamin the old mullion…windowed；
flower…chintzed schoolroom； just himself and her and old Tingle
（Miss Tring； the ancient governess； whose chaperonage would now be
gone）； and sometimes that kid Sylvia； when she chanced to be
staying there with her mother。 Cicely had always understood him
when he explained to her how inferior school was； because nobody
took any interest in beasts or birds except to kill them； or in
drawing； or making things； or anything decent。 They would go off
together； rambling along the river； or up the park； where
everything looked so jolly and wildthe ragged oak…trees； and huge
boulders； of whose presence old Godden； the coachman； had said： 〃I
can't think but what these ha' been washed here by the Flood； Mast'
Mark！〃 These and a thousand other memories beset his conscience
now。 And as the train drew closer to their station； he eagerly
made ready to jump out and greet her。 There was the honeysuckle
full out along the paling of the platform over the waiting…room；
wonderful； this yearand there was she； standing alone on the
platform。 No； it was not Cicely！ He got out with a blank
sensation； as if those memories had played him false。 It was a
girl； indeed； but she only looked about sixteen； and wore a
sunbonnet that hid her hair and half her face。 She had on a blue
frock； and some honeysuckle in her waist…belt。 She seemed to be
smiling at him； and expecting him to smile at her； and so he did
smile。 She came up to him then； and said：
〃I'm Sylvia。〃
He answered： 〃Oh！ thanks awfullyit was awfully good of you to
come and meet me。〃
〃Cicely's so busy。 It's only the T…cart。 Have you got much
luggage？〃
She took up his hold…all； and he took it from her； she took his
bag； and he took it from her； then they went out to the T…cart。 A
small groom stood there； holding a silver…roan cob with a black
mane and black swish tail。
She said： 〃D'you mind if I drive； because I'm learning。〃
And he answered： 〃Oh； no！ rather not。〃
She got up； he noticed that her eyes looked quite excited。 Then
his portmanteau came out and was deposited with the other things
behind； and he got up beside her。
She said： 〃Let go； Billy。〃
The roan rushed past the little groom； whose top boots seemed to
twinkle as he jumped up behind。 They whizzed round the corner from
the station yard； and observing that her mouth was just a little
open as though this had disconcerted her； he said：
〃He pulls a bit。〃
〃Yesbut isn't he perfectly sweet？〃
〃He IS rather decent。〃
Ah！ when SHE came； he would drive her； they would go off alone in
the T…cart； and he would show her all the country round。
He was re…awakened by the words：
〃Oh！ I know he's going to shy！〃 At once there was a swerve。 The
roan was cantering。
They had passed a pig。
〃Doesn't he look lovely now？ Ought I to have whipped him when he
shied？〃
〃Rather not。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because horses are horses； and pigs are pigs； it's natural for
horses to shy at them。〃
〃Oh！〃
He looked up at her then； sidelong。 The curve of her cheek and
chin looked very soft； and rather jolly。
〃I didn't know you； you know！〃 he said。 〃You've grown up so
awfully。〃
〃I knew you at once。 Your voice is still furry。〃
There was another silence； till she said：
〃He does pull； ratherdoesn't he； going home？〃
〃Shall I drive？〃
〃Yes； please。〃
He stood up and took the reins； and she slipped past under them in
front of him； her hair smelt exactly like hay； as she was softly
bumped against him。
She kept regarding him steadily with very blue eyes； now that she
was relieved of driving。
〃Cicely was afraid you weren't coming；〃 she said suddenly。 〃What
sort of people are those old Stormers？〃
He felt himself grow very red； choked something down； and answered：
〃It's only he that's old。 She's not more than about thirty…five。〃
〃That IS old。〃
He restrained the words： 〃Of course it's old to a kid like you！〃
And； instead； he looked at her。 Was she exactly a kid？ She seemed
quite tall （for a girl） and not very thin； and there was something
frank and soft about her face； and as if she wanted you to be nice
to her。
〃Is she very pretty？〃
This time he did not go red； such was the disturbance that question
made in him。 If he said： 〃Yes；〃 it was like letting the world know
his adoration； but to say anything less would be horrible；
disloyal。 So he did say： 〃Yes；〃 listening hard to the tone of his
own voice。
〃I thought she was。 Do you like her very much？〃 Again he
struggled with that thing in his throat； and again said： 〃Yes。〃
He wanted to hate this girl； yet somehow could notshe looked so
soft and confiding。 She was staring before her now； her lips still
just parted； so evidently THAT had not been because of Bolero's
pulling； they were pretty all the same； and so was her short；
straight little nose； and her chin； and she was awfully fair。 His
thoughts flew back to that other faceso splendid； so full of
life。 Suddenly he found himself unable to picture itfor the
first time since he had started on his journey it would not come
before him。
〃Oh！ Look！〃
Her hand was pulling at his