Windebank she was sure of, whereas she was not so confident of
Perigal; but she was forced to admit that the elusive and more
subtle personality of the latter appealed more to her imagination
than the other's stability. Presently, she left her lodgings and
walked slowly towards the canal, which was in a contrary direction
to that in which lay the Avon. The calm of the still water inclined
her to sadness. She idled along the towpath, plucking carelessly at
the purple vetch which bordered the canal in luxuriant profusion.
More than once, she was possessed by the idea that someone was
following her. Then she became aware that Perigal was also idling
along the towpath some way behind her. The sight of him made her
heart beat; she all but decided to turn back to meet him. Common
sense again fought for the possession of her mind. It told her that
by dawdling till she reached the next bend, she could be out of
sight of Perigal, without exciting his suspicions, when it would be
the easiest thing in the world to hurry till she came to a track
which led from the canal to the town. She was putting this design
into practice, and had already reached the bend, when odd verses of
the "Song of Solomon" occurred to her:
"Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast
doves' eyes.
Pages:
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382