Chapter 86

           "Lecoeursesatured’amourcommed’unseldivinquileconserve;delal’incorruptibleadherencedeceuxquisesontaimesdesl’aubedelavie,etlafraicheurdesviellesamoursprolonges.Ilexisteunembaumementd’amour.C’estdeDaphnisetChloequesontfaitsPhilemonetBaucis.Cettevieillessela,ressemblancedusoiravecl’aurore."

           —VICTORHUGO:L’hommequirit.

           Mrs.Garth,hearingCalebenterthepassageabouttea-time,openedtheparlor-doorandsaid,"Thereyouare,Caleb.Haveyouhadyourdinner?"(Mr.Garth’smealsweremuchsubordinatedto"business.")

           "Ohyes,agooddinner—coldmuttonandIdon’tknowwhat.WhereisMary?"

           "InthegardenwithLetty,Ithink."

           "Fredisnotcomeyet?"

           "No.Areyougoingoutagainwithouttakingtea,Caleb?"saidMrs.Garth,seeingthatherabsent-mindedhusbandwasputtingonagainthehatwhichhehadjusttakenoff.

           "No,no;I’monlygoingtoMaryaminute."

           Marywasinagrassycornerofthegarden,wheretherewasaswingloftilyhungbetweentwopear-trees.Shehadapinkkerchieftiedoverherhead,makingalittlepoketoshadehereyesfromthelevelsunbeams,whileshewasgivingagloriousswingtoLetty,wholaughedandscreamedwildly.