Chapter 58

           Thenightwasstrangelysolemnandstill.InthesmallhoursshewhisperedtohimthewholestoryofhowhehadwalkedinhissleepwithherinhisarmsacrosstheFroomstream,attheimminentriskofboththeirlives,andlaidherdowninthestonecoffinattheruinedabbey.Hehadneverknownofthattillnow.

           “Whydidn’tyoutellmenextday?”hesaid.“Itmighthavepreventedmuchmisunderstandingandwoe.”

           “Don’tthinkofwhat’spast!”saidshe.“Iamnotgoingtothinkoutsideofnow.Whyshouldwe!Whoknowswhattomorrowhasinstore?”

           Butitapparentlyhadnosorrow.Themorningwaswetandfoggy,andClare,rightlyinformedthatthecaretakeronlyopenedthewindowsonfinedays,venturedtocreepoutoftheirchamber,andexplorethehouse,leavingTessasleep.Therewasnofoodonthepremises,buttherewaswater,andhetookadvantageofthefogtoemergefromthemansion,andfetchtea,bread,andbutterfromashopinalittleplacetwomilesbeyond,asalsoasmalltinkettleandspirit-lamp,thattheymightgetfirewithoutsmoke.Hisre-entryawokeher;andtheybreakfastedonwhathehadbrought.

           Theywereindisposedtostirabroad,andthedaypassed,andthenightfollowing,andthenext,andnext;till,almostwithouttheirbeingaware,fivedayshadslippedbyinabsoluteseclusion,notasightorsoundofahumanbeingdisturbingtheirpeacefulness,suchasitwas.Thechangesoftheweatherweretheironlyevents,thebirdsoftheNewForesttheironlycompany.