With every tide the boats go up and down with their brown sails, and always the tower of Chelsea Church rises above the trees, and the broad river never forgets to sparkle and to glow in the sunshine when it gets the chance.

Such common things are for the most part unheeded, but, when the mind is anxious and full, they force themselves upon one.

Arnold watched boats, and river, and sunshine on the sails, with a strange interest and wonder, as one sees visions in a dream.

He had seen all these things before, yet now he noticed them for the first time, and all the while he was thinking what he should say to Iris, and how he should approach the subject.

I know not whether Iris, like him, saw one thing and noticed another.