But this last, he presently admitted, was rather too much to expect, for he did not think she was subject to headaches, or to making excuses.

At any rate he might have caught sight of her, and if he had, he certainly would have called to her, and would have had his say with her, even had she persisted in standing six feet from the door-step.

But now this dreary day had shut his door and put an interdict upon strolls across the grass.

Therefore it was that he must resign any opportunity, for that day, at least, of soothing the harrowing perturbations of his passion by either the comforting warmth of hope, or by the deadening frigidity of a consummated despair.

This last, in truth, he did not expect, but still, if it came, it would be better than perturbations; they must be soothed at any cost.