But though I respect him because he is as I have found him, and understand how rare a personality it takes to achieve such refinement of faithfulness, it seems to me, that to teach this constant lover to forget the past in the present, would be something worth living for--something worthy of _me_!
Molly!--What is the meaning of this? You have never before put that thought in words, even to yourself! But let me be frank, or else what is the use of this diary?
Looking back to those delightful three days, did not the _thought_ come to me, if not the words? Well, well, it is better, sometimes, I believe, to let oneself drift, than to try and guide the boat; and I must hurry back to Scarthey or I shall never have told my story....
How swiftly time had flown by us! I sitting in the arm-chair, with the old dog's muzzle on my lap, and Sir Adrian standing by his great chimney; the clock struck twelve, in the midst of the long silence, and I had thought that barely an hour had passed.
I got up, and, seeing me limp in my attempt to walk, Sir Adrian gave me his arm; and so we went round the great room _bras dessus_, _bras dessous_, and it already seemed quite natural to feel like an intimate friend in that queer dwelling.
We paused a long time in silence by the window, the tempest wind was still raging, but the sky was clear, and all round us was a wonderful sight; the sea, as far as eyes could reach, white with foam, lashed and tossing in frenzy round the rock on which we stood so safely, and rising in long jets of spray, which now and then dashed as far as our window; and when I looked down nearer, I could see the little stunted trees, bending backwards and forwards under the blast, and an odd idea came to my mind:--they looked to me when they caught my sight, as though they were bowing deep, hurriedly and frantically greeting me among them.
I glanced up at my silent companion, the true knight, and found his wide grey eyes fixed upon me with the same expression that was already familiar to me, which I had especially noted as he told me his long tale of olden times.
This time I felt the look go to my heart. _And then the thought first came to my mind, all unformed, but still sweet._