Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter IV
ForatimethepeculiarityoftheaffairwasofmoreinteresttoVanameethanevenhisowndistressofspirit,andonceortwiceherepeatedtheattempt,almostexperimentally,andinvariablywiththesameresult:sosoonasheseemedtoholdAngeleinthegripofhismind,hewasmovedtoturnabouttowardthenorth,andhurrytowardthepeartreesonthecrestofthehillthatover-lookedthelittlevalley.
ButVanamee’sunhappinesswastookeenthisnightforhimtodwelllonguponthevagariesofhismind.Submittingatlength,andabandoningthegrave,heflunghimselfdownintheblackshadeofthepeartrees,hischininhishands,andresignedhimselffinallyanddefinitelytotheinrushofrecollectionandtheexquisitegriefofaninfiniteregret.
Tohisfancy,shecametohimagain.Heputhimselfbackmanyyears.HerememberedthewarmnightsofJulyandAugust,profoundlystill,theskyencrustedwithstars,thelittleMissiongardenexhalingthemingledperfumesthatallthroughthescorchingdayhadbeendistilledunderthesteadyblazeofasummer’ssun.Hesawhimselfasanotherperson,arrivingatthis,theirrendezvous.Alldaylongshehadbeeninhismind.Alldaylonghehadlookedforwardtothisquiethourthatbelongedtoher.Itwasdark.Hecouldseenothing,but,byandby,heheardastep,agentlerustleofthegrassontheslopeofthehillpressedunderanadvancingfoot.Thenhesawthefaintgleamofpallidgoldofherhair,abarelyvisibleglowinthestarlight,andheardthemurmurofherbreathinthelapseoftheover-passingbreeze.
