Page:Further Chronicles of Avonlea (1920).djvu/165

Rh sweetness. I trod on a bed of mint, and the spice of it floated up to me like the incense of some strange, sacred, solemn ceremonial. I felt unspeakbly happy and blessed.

When we came to the door Hester said,

“Knock, Margaret.”

I rapped gently. In a moment Hugh opened it. Then that happened by which, in after days, I was to know that this strange thing was no dream or fancy of mine. Hugh looked not at me, but past me.

“Hester!” he exclaimed, with human fear and horror in his voice.

He leaned against the door-post, the big, strong fellow, trembling from head to foot.

“I have learned,” said Hester, “that nothing matters in all God’s universe, except love. There is no pride where I have been and no false ideals.”

Hugh and I looked into each other’s eyes, wondering, and then we knew that we were alone.