consequences;
she had done her best! She would have this one fling of joy, even if it
meant that she must stay out there, and never see the boy again!

Standing in her dusky hall, where a faint scent of woodrot crept out into
the air, whenever windows and doors were closed, she was all tremulous
with secret happiness. To be with him among her mountains, to show him
all those wonderful, glittering or tawny crags, to go with him to the top
of them and see the kingdoms of the world spread out below; to wander
with him in the pine woods, on the Alps in all the scent of the trees and
the flowers, where the sun was hot! The first of July; and it was only
the tenth of June! Would she ever live so long? They would not go to
San Martino this time, rather to Cortina--some new place that had no
memories!

She moved from the window, and busied herself with a bowl of flowers.
She had heard that humming sound which often heralded her husband's
approach, as though warning the world to recover its good form before he
reached it. In her happiness she felt kind and friendly to him. If he
had not meant to give her joy, he had nevertheless given it! He came
downstairs two at a time, with that air of not being a pedagogue, which
she knew so well; and, taking his hat off the stand, half turned round to
her.

"Pleasant youth, young Lennan; hope he won't bore us out there!"

His voice seemed to have an accent of compunction, to ask pardon for
having issued that impulsive invitation. And there came to her an
overwhelming wish to laugh. To hide it, to find excuse for it, she ran
up to him, and, pulling his coat lapels till his face was within reach,
she kissed the tip of his nose. And then she laughed. And he stood
looking at her, with his head just a little on one side, and his eyebrows
just a little raised.

IV

When young Mark heard a soft tapping at his door, though out of bed, he
was getting on but dreamily--it was so jolly to watch the mountains lying
out in this early light like huge beasts. That one they were going up,
with his head just raised above his paws, looked very far away out there!
Opening the door an inch, he whispered:

"Is it late?"

"Five o'clock; aren't you ready?"

It was awfully rude of him to keep her waiting! And he was soon down in
the empty dining-room, where a sleepy maid was already bringing in their
coffee. Anna was there alone. She had on a flax-blue shirt, open at the
neck, a short