during and placidly
satisfying in the end; it may be better, and wiser, and more prudent,
for acquaintance to beget esteem, and esteem regard, and regard
affection, and affection an interchange of peaceful vows: the result, a
well-ordered life and home. All this is admirable, no doubt; an owl is a
bird when you can get no other; but the love born of a moment, yet born
of eternity, which comes but once in a lifetime, and to not one in a
thousand lives, unquestioning, unthinking, investigating nothing,
proving nothing, sufficient unto itself,--ah, that is divine; and this
divine ecstasy filled these two souls.

Unconsciously. They did not define nor comprehend. They listened to the
sea where they sat, and felt tears start to their eyes, yet knew not
why. They were silent, and thought they talked; or spoke, and said
nothing. They danced; and as he held her hand and uttered a few words,
almost whispered, the words sounded to the listening ear like a part of
the music to which they kept time. They saw a multitude of people, and
exchanged the compliments of the evening, yet these people made no more
impression upon their thoughts than gossamer would have made upon their
hands.

"Come, Francesca!" said Clara Russell, breaking in upon this, "it is not
fair for you to monopolize my cousin Will, who is the handsomest man in
the room; and it isn't fair for Will to keep you all to himself in this
fashion. Here is Tom, ready to scratch out his eyes with vexation
because you won't dance with him; and here am I, dying to waltz with
somebody who knows my step,--to say nothing of innumerable young ladies
and gentlemen who have been casting indignant and beseeching glances
this way: so, sir, face about, march!" and away the gay girl went with
her prize, leaving Francesca to the tender mercies of half a dozen young
men who crowded eagerly round her, and from whom Tom carried her off
with triumph and rejoicing.

The evening was over at last, and they were going away. Tom had said
good night.

"You are to be in New York, at my uncle's, Clara tells me."

"It is true."

"I may see you there?"

For answer she put out her hand. He took it as he would have taken a
delicate flower, laid his other hand softly, yet closely, over it, and,
without any adieu spoken, went away.

"Tom always declared Willie was a little queer, and I'm sure I begin to
think so," said Clara, as she kissed her friend and departed to her
room.

CHAPTER V