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I went there and bought this purse from him。 I knew some day it would
bring me to you。 I have carried it over my heart ever since。〃
〃So you noticed me？〃
〃I saw you all the time I was singing。 I have never forgotten you since
that hour。〃
〃What made you sing？〃
〃Compassion； fate； an urgent impulse； perhaps； indeed； your piteous
faceI saw it first。〃
〃Really？〃
〃I saw it first。 I saw it all the time I was singing。 When you dropped
this purse my soul met yours in a moment's greeting。 It was a promise。 I
knew I should meet you again。 I have loved you ever since。 I wanted to
tell you so the hour we met。 It has been hard to keep my secret so long。〃
〃It was my secret also。〃
〃I love you beyond all words。 My life is in your hands。 You can make
me the gladdest of mortals。 You can send me away forever。〃
〃Oh； no； I could not！ I could not do that！〃 The rest escapes words； but
thus it was that on this day of days these two came by God's grace to each
other。
For all things come by fate to flower； At their unconquerable
hour。
And the very atmosphere of such bliss is diffusive； it seemed as if all
the living creatures around understood。 In the thick； green branches the
birds began to twitter the secret； and certainly the wise； wise bees knew
also； in some occult way； of the love and joy that had just been revealed。 A
wonderful humming and buzzing filled the hives； and the air vibrated with
the movement of wings。 Some influence more swift and secret than the
birds of the air carried the matter further； for it finally reached Royal； the
Squire's favorite collie； who came sauntering down the alley； pushed his
nose twice under Ethel's elbow； and then with a significant look backward；
advised the lovers to follow him to the house。
When they finally accepted his invitation； they found Mrs。 Rawdon
drinking a cup of tea with Ruth in the hall。 Ethel joined them with affected
high spirits and random explanations and excuses； but both women no…
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ticed her radiant face and exulting air。 〃The garden is such a heavenly
place；〃 she said ecstatically； and Mrs Rawdon remarked； as she rose and
put her cup on the table； 〃Girls need chaperons in gardens if they need
them anywhere。 I made Nicholas Rawdon a promise in Mossgill Garden
I've had to spend all my life since trying to keep。〃
〃Tyrrel and I have been sitting under the plane tree watching the bees。
They are such busy； sensible creatures。〃
〃They are that；〃 answered Mrs。 Rawdon。 〃If you knew all about them
you would wonder a bit。 My father had a great many； he studied their
ways and used to laugh at the ladies of the hive being so like the ladies of
the world。 You see the young lady bees are just as inexperienced as a
schoolgirl。 They get lost in the flowers； and are often so overtaken and
reckless； that the night finds them far from the hive； heavy with pollen and
chilled with cold。 Sometimes father would lift one of these imprudent
young things； carry it home； and try to get it admitted。 He never could
manage it。 The lady bees acted just as women are apt to do when other
women GO where they don't go； or DO as they don't do。〃
〃But this is interesting；〃 said Ruth。 〃Pray； how did the ladies of the
hive behave to the culprit？〃
〃They came out and felt her all over； turned her round and round； and
then pushed her out of their community。 There was always a deal of
buzzing about the poor； silly thing； and I shouldn't wonder if their stings
were busy too。 Bees are ill…natured as they can be。 Well； well； I don't
blame anyone for sitting in the garden such a day as this； only； as I was
saying； gardens have been very dangerous places for women as far as I
know。〃
Ruth laughed softly。 〃I shall take a chaperon with me； then； when I go
into the garden。〃
〃I would； dearie。 There's the Judge； he's a very suitable； sedate…looking
one but you never can tell。 The first woman found in a garden and a tree
had plenty of sorrow for herself and every woman that has lived after her。
I wish Nicholas and John Thomas would come。 I'll warrant they're talking
what they call politics。〃
Politics was precisely the subject which had been occupying them； for
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when Tyrrel entered the dining…room； the Squire； Judge Rawdon； and Mr。
Nicholas Rawdon were all standing； evidently just finishing a
Conservative argument against the Radical opinions of John Thomas。 The
young man was still sitting； but he rose with smiling good…humor as Tyrrel
entered。
〃Here is Cousin Tyrrel；〃 he cried； 〃he will tell you that you may call a
government anything you like radical； conservative； republican；
democratic； socialistic； but if it isn't a CHEAP government； it isn't a good
government； and there won't be a cheap government in England till poor
men have a deal to say about making laws and voting taxes。〃
〃Is that the kind of stuff you talk to our hands； John Thomas？ No
wonder they are neither to hold nor to bind。〃
They were in the hall as John Thomas finished his political creed； and
in a few minutes the adieux were said； and the wonderful day was over。 It
had been a wonderful day for all； but perhaps no one was sorry for a pause
in lifea pause in which they might rest and try to realize what it had
brought and what it had taken away。 The Squire went at once to his room；
and Ethel looked at Ruth inquiringly。 She seemed exhausted； and was out
of sympathy with all her surroundings。
〃What enormous vitality these Yorkshire women must have！〃 she said
almost crossly。 〃Mrs。 Rawdon has been talking incessantly for six hours。
She has felt all she said。 She has frequently risen and walked about。 She
has used all sorts of actions to emphasize her words； and she is as fresh as
if she had just taken her morning bath。 How do the men stand them？〃
〃Because they are just as vital。 John Thomas will overlook and scold
and order his thousand hands all day； talk even his mother down while he
eats his dinner； and then lecture or lead his Musical Union； or conduct a
poor man's concert； or go to ‘the Weaver's Union；' and what he calls
‘threep them' for two or three hours that labor is ruining capital； and
killing the goose that lays golden eggs for them。 Oh； they are a wonderful
race； Ruth！〃
〃I really can't discuss them now； Ethel。〃
〃Don't you want to know what Tyrrel said to me this afternoon？〃
〃My dear； I know。 Lovers have said such things before； and lovers will
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say them evermore。 You shall tell me in the morning。 I thought he looked
distrait and bored with our company。〃
Indeed； Tyrrel was so remarkably quiet that John Thomas also noticed
his mood； and as they sat smoking in Tyrrel's room； he resolved to find out
the reason； and with his usual directness asked：
〃What do you think of Ethel Rawdon； Tyrrel；〃
〃I think she is the most beautiful woman I ever saw。 She has also the
most sincere nature； and her high spirit is sweetly tempered by her
affectionate heart。〃
〃I am glad you know so much about her。 Look here； Cousin Tyrrel； I
fancied to…night you were a bit jealous of me。 It is easy to see you are in
love； and I've no doubt you were thinking of the days when you would be
thousands of miles away； and I should have the ground clear and so on；
eh？〃
〃Suppose I was； cousin； what then？〃
〃You would be worrying for nothing。 I don't want to marry Ethel
Rawdon。 If I did； you would have to be on the ground all the time； and
then I should best you； but I picked out my wife two years ago； and if we
are both alive and well； we are going to be married next Christmas。〃
〃I am delighted。 I〃
〃I thought you would be。〃
〃Who is the young lady？〃
〃Miss Lucy Watson。 Her father is the Independent minister。 He is a
gentl