Page:Alice Lauder.pdf/262

Alice could hardly help asking herself whether she had indeed chosen wisely in turning away from the natural sunshine earth, all for the sake of some fantastic ideal which now seemed to die away into the twilight, instead of supporting her with strong inward faith.

Perhaps they might have remained in the shadows up to this very moment, but that a sudden turn in the path brought them in sight of the sea again. The gloomy arches of the forest framed in a long vista of heavenly azure, and far beyond, half resting on the horizon, half hid in summer clouds, a long range of snow-clad mountain-peaks shone out with startling purity, white and dazzling as if they had been the houses of angels. Just at that moment the horse that Alice was riding stumbled over the root of a tree in the rough pathway, and she fell forward, half losing her balance. Campbell was by her side in the same instant, and lifted her into the saddle again, when something he saw in her tearful, half-averted eyes caused him to stop and remain standing by her side, his arm still round her, while some long, long explanation passed in silence between them. So long did they remain in this enchanted silence that the little reed-warbler in the bush near them thought they had departed, and began once more to try