COMMUTER'S WIFE 235 



ness, I fear. A sharp, cold wind already rebuffs the 

 violets and makes me tremble lest we have laid bare 

 the hardy beds and uncapped the rose bushes too 

 soon. 



In the hardy garden the Scylla and Charybdis of 

 springs lies between the keeping of things too warm 

 and uncovering prematurely. 



April 10. A sullen week of hope deferred. Evan 

 has been on a little journey. How changed the 

 house is when the personality that pervades its every 

 corner is withdrawn ! Each one feels it, the maids 

 and dogs alike. Father even is restless, having come 

 from years of lacking it to lean on male companion- 

 ship ; and I I fully understand why in old times, 

 when the knight went forth, his lady, feeling too 

 cross for general society, betook herself to a tower. 

 There she alternately gazed at and polished his 

 second best shield until trumpets sounding and the 

 drawbridge falling announced his return, when, rush- 

 ing down, she fell into his embrace, unclasped his 

 armour, and kneeling, relieved him of his sword. 



Of course now there is no drawbridge, the door 

 opens easily, the dogs replace the trumpets, and very 

 well do Bugle and Tally-ho imitate them. Evan 

 sets down his suit case unassisted, but the embrace 

 remains and all the gladness. 



