Page:Margaret Sherwood--A Puritan in Bohemia.djvu/99

A Puritan Bohemia The excitement of all this made Helen feel that she was at last in the great current of life. The sternness of its struggle was hers.

"Suppose we form a Round Table fellowship," said Anne Bradford one evening. "My tea-table shall be the social centre."

"I consent, with rapture," responded Howard.

"It is queer," Anne continued, "but, do you know, I cannot find any interesting people outside of Bohemia."

"Or any interesting ideas," said Helen; "but that's the same thing."

"Or any good coffee," added Howard, lifting his cup.

Snow lay on roof and on garden wall, and east winds wailed in the streets. In the Square the long willow branches waved in falling snow and fitful sunshine. But the wind in their faces, and the mud and snow of the ways they walked, were as nothing to the seekers for the ideal. Howard Stanton went on making great