Page:Far from the Maddening Girls.djvu/179

 A moment later I was in the open air with two perceptions, distinct and yet related, dominating all others in my mind. I had been rejected— that was the lesser of them. I had escaped! — that was the greater.

With what depth of gratitude I returned to “Sans Souci” I shall not attempt to say. Around me the autumn day was luxuriously yawning and preparing to retire. A great peace and sense of sanity pervaded all the woodland, through which the road wound for a level mile toward my home. After the warm, close air of the Berrith’s tea-room, that which now struck against my face was incomparably fresh and invigorating. It spoke with an appealing eloquence of a wide and wind-swept liberty of the birds and forest beasts; the liberty of the sea and the western breeze; deliberately which I had striven for, had gained, had wantonly imperilled, and which was still mine — though I had not myself to thank for that. I felt like a man — as indeed