"The country altogether looks
splendid to-day."
"Ay, it's a bonny day enough if it would but last. Come your ways with
me and I'll set you out by the back door. You can come in again the same
road if you've a mind."
On which she bustled up, and Alick, escorted by her, went through the
house and on to the fell-side.
It was, if possible, grander now than it had been in the earlier part of
the day. The hot sun had cleared away the lingering mist, and the
cloudless sky was like one large perfect opal, while the earth beneath
shone and glistened as if it were a jewel set with various-colored gems.
There was not a mean or sordid thing about. Touched by the splendid
alchemy of the sun, the smallest circumstance was noble, the poorest
color glorious. Alick stood on the fell-brow entranced: then turning, he
saw slowly coming across the pathless green a young slight figure
dressed in gray. He looked as it came near, and his heart beat with a
force that took all power from him. It was absurd, he knew, but there
was such a strange look of Leam about that girl! He stood and watched
her coming along with that slow, graceful, undulating step which was
Leam's birthright. Was he mad? Was he dreaming? What was this mocking
trick of eyesight that was perplexing him? Surely it was madness; and
yet--no, it could be no one else. Supreme, beloved, who else could
personate her so as to cheat him?
She came on, her eyes always fixed on the distance, seeing nothing of
Alick standing dark against the sky.
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