Rather there was in it a sweet self-dedicating note as of one going sadly alone to a painful task, a note which once more left Aldous Raeburn's self-restraint tottering.

She was walking gently beside him, her pretty dress trailing lightly over the dry stubble, her hand in its white ruffles hanging so close beside him--after all her prophetess airs a pensive womanly thing, that must surely hear how his strong man's heart was beginning to beat! He bent over to her.
"Don't talk of there being no one to help! There may be many ways out of present difficulties.

Meanwhile, however things go, could you be large-minded enough to count one person here your friend ?" She looked up at him.

Tall as she was, he was taller--she liked that; she liked too the quiet cautious strength of his English expression and bearing.

She did not think him handsome, and she was conscious of no thrill.