Page:The New Arcadia (Tucker).djvu/134

124 And my heart always goes out towards those who pine away on the hill-top."

A few hours later the pair came upon the village green of the deaf mutes. Frank Brown was playing cricket with the lads. Maud, beside a table, beneath an awning, was preparing sandwiches and refreshments.

"Do you two never get tired of your self-imposed tasks?" asked Gwyneth, exchanging an affectionate greeting with her friend.

"I might fairly ask that of you," replied Maud. "There is not much task about it either. We had the most delightful sail across the lake, and a scamper on ponies to the Reformatory Bend."

"Is it true that you are engaged?" whispered Gwyneth, casting a questioning glance on the radiant face of sweet content beside her.

"You all are ever imagining that," said Maud, amused. "We are 'engaged' in a common and a pleasant work."

"And nothing else?"

"Why should there be anything more? Cannot people like each other and work together without love-making? We have eschewed such nonsense."

After a while Gwyneth moved on.

"Nothing more!" Maud repeated to herself as she cut and patted her sandwiches. "I think not. Sometimes I am afraid. I shall be disappointed if we come to grief like other selfish people. It is so nice in theory to be brother and sister, but so hard in practice."

"Now, Maud, have you a grand lunch for these famished urchins?" called Frank, as he came to where she was engaged. "I do not know what I should do without you," he added, looking admiringly at the busy maiden.

"You'd go on just the same in your happy-go-lucky fashion."