I will write a glorious song in praise of showery gusts and bare commons." "Do," said Letty, careful not to say Tom this time, but unwilling to revert to Mr.Helmer, "and mind you bring in the umbrella." "That I will! See if I don't!" answered Tom.
"And make it real poetry too ?" asked Letty, looking archly round the stick of the umbrella.
"Thou shalt thyself be the lovely critic, fair maiden!" answered Tom.
And thus they were already on the footing of somewhere about a two years' acquaintance--thanks to the smart of ill-usage in Letty's bosom, the gayety in Tom's, the sudden wild weather, the quiet heath, the gathering shades, and the umbrella! The wind blew cold, the air was dank and chill, the west was a low gleam of wet yellow, and the rain shot stinging in their faces; but Letty cared quite as little for it all as Tom did, for her heart, growing warm with the comfort of the friendly presence, felt like a banished soul that has found a world; and a joy as of endless deliverance pervaded her being.

And neither to her nor to Tom must we deny our sympathy in the pleasure which, walking over a bog, they drew from the flowers that mantled awful deeps; they will not sink until they stop, and begin to build their house upon it.
Within that umbrella, hovered, and glided with them, an atmosphere of bliss and peace and rose-odors.

In the midst of storm and coming darkness, it closed warm and genial around the pair.

Tom meditated no guile, and Letty had no deceit in her.

Yet was Tom no true man, or sweet Letty much of a woman.