There had not been a word gone amiss between them, nor even a thought the wrong way of the grain; but the pressure of fear and of prickly expectation was upon them both, and kept them mute.

The lad was afraid that he would get "nay," and the lass was afraid that she could not give it.
The bower was quite at the end of the garden, through and beyond the pot-herb part, and upon a little bank which overhung a little lane.
Here in this corner a good woman had contrived what women nearly always understand the best, a little nook of pleasure and of perfume, after the rank ranks of the kitchen-stuff.

Not that these are to be disdained; far otherwise; they indeed are the real business; and herein lies true test of skill.

But still the flowers may declare that they do smell better.
And not only were there flowers here, and little shrubs planted sprucely, but also good grass, which is always softness, and soothes the impatient eyes of men.

And on this grass there stood, or hung, or flowered, or did whatever it was meant to do, a beautiful weeping-ash, the only one anywhere in that neighborhood.
"I can't look at skies, and that--have seen too many of them.