Chapter 16

           WhenArcherwalkeddownthesandymainstreetofSt.AugustinetothehousewhichhadbeenpointedouttohimasMr.Welland’s,andsawMayWellandstandingunderamagnoliawiththesuninherhair,hewonderedwhyhehadwaitedsolongtocome.Herewasthetruth,herewasreality,herewasthelifethatbelongedtohim;andhe,whofanciedhimselfsoscornfulofarbitraryrestraints,hadbeenafraidtobreakawayfromhisdeskbecauseofwhatpeoplemightthinkofhisstealingaholiday!Herfirstexclamationwas:"Newland—hasanythinghappened?"anditoccurredtohimthatitwouldhavebeenmore"feminine"ifshehadinstantlyreadinhiseyeswhyhehadcome.Butwhenheanswered:"Yes—IfoundIhadtoseeyou,"herhappyblushestookthechillfromhersurprise,andhesawhoweasilyhewouldbeforgiven,andhowsoonevenMr.Letterblair’smilddisapprovalwouldbesmiledawaybyatolerantfamily.Earlyasitwas,themainstreetwasnoplaceforanybutformalgreetings,andArcherlongedtobealonewithMay,andtopouroutallhistendernessandhisimpatience.ItstilllackedanhourtothelateWellandbreakfast-time,andinsteadofaskinghimtocomeinsheproposedthattheyshouldwalkouttoanoldorange-gardenbeyondthetown.Shehadjustbeenforarowontheriver,andthesunthatnettedthelittlewaveswithgoldseemedtohavecaughtherinitsmeshes.Acrossthewarmbrownofhercheekherblownhairglitteredlikesilverwire;andhereyestoolookedlighter,almostpaleintheiryouthfullimpidity.