They came to a bench on the bank, and he made a great fuss dusting the seat for her with his black slouch hat.

Then he regretted the hat--it was a shabby old hat of a Carlow County fashion.
It was a long bench, and he seated himself rather remotely toward the end opposite her, suddenly realizing that he had walked very close to her, coming down the narrow garden path.

Neither knew that neither had spoken since they left the veranda; and it had taken them a long time to come through the little orchard and the garden.

She rested her chin on her hand, leaning forward and looking steadily at the creek.

Her laughter had quite gone; her attitude seemed a little wistful and a little sad.