THE CHANGE 223 



birds loved to splash and ruffle in the water. 

 That little lake in the wood was a place of 

 glamour and romance, especially in later 

 years when I was deeply in love." 



The sun came over the houses, the starlings 

 whistled and clucked among the smoke- 

 burnt and red chimney pots. Wives in 

 the houses were preparing breakfast for 

 their men who soon would walk quickly 

 down the pavements towards the station; 

 another day's work in London was beginning. 



" Yes, I was deeply in love," the pale 

 stranger continued, " with Louise. That 

 was her name to me, a name I gave her 

 because " 



He faltered and ended. I looked away, 

 for pain had come into his eyes and his 

 voice. The heaped bean-sticks became 

 indistinct as I looked. Again he spoke, 



" When I first saw her, I knew that I 

 would love her, and that she would love 

 me. The bluebells had drooped and faded, 

 their spirits gone to make the sky a deeper 



