There was also much sickness in the village, and his father was not as watchful as usual.

It happened that Lawrence, for lack of other amusement, would often saunter about the domestic byways of the house, and had a hand in various tasks which brought him into working partnership with pretty, young Elmira--such as stemming currants or shelling pease and beans.

On several occasions, also, he and Elmira had roamed the pastures in search of blackberries for tea.

Once when they were out together, and had been picking a long time from one fat bush, neither saying a word--for a strange silence which abashed them both, though they knew not why, had come between them--the girl, moved thereto by some quick impulse of maidenly concealment and shame which she did not herself understand, made some light and trivial remark about the size of the fruit, which would well have acquit her had not her little voice broken with utter self-betrayal of innocent love and passion.

And then young Lawrence, with a quick motion, as of fire which leaps to flame after a long smoulder, flung an arm about her, with a sigh of "Oh, Elmira!" and kissed her on her mouth.
Then they had quickly stood apart, as if afraid of each other, and finished picking their berries and gone home soberly, with scarce a word.