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Updated: June 7, 2025
Such passages there had been between them; but Arthur had never taken her hand and sworn that it must be his own, nor had Adela ever blushed while half refusing to give him all he asked. Why then need he trouble himself about West Putford? Why not let matters rest as they were?
Now and again, as he walked along the little river bank that ran with so many turnings from Hurst Staple down to West Putford, he would think of his past hopes, and lament that he could talk of them to no one. His father was very good to him; but he was too cold for sympathy.
And so somewhat more than a year passed away, during which he was but little at Hurst Staple, and very little at West Putford.
And now and then they walk along the river to West Putford; for among their choicest blessings is that of having a good neighbour in the old rectory. And walking there, how can they but think of old sorrows and present joys? "Ah!" she whispered to him one day, as they crept along the reedy margin in the summer evening, not long after their marriage.
They had known and loved each other as children together, and now that they were no longer children, they still knew and loved each other that was all. It is true that Arthur, when he had wished to talk of his own disappointments, had found a better listener at West Putford than any that he could find at Hurst Staple.
The widow's cap did make some change in the appearance of the family circle; but it is astonishing how soon we get used even to a widow's cap! There had of course been visits of condolence between West Putford and Hurst Staple, and the Hurst Staple girls and Adela had been as much, or perhaps more, together than usual. But Arthur's walks along the river had not been frequent.
The dingy volumes of thirty years since had been made to give way to the new and brighter bindings which he had brought from college. And therefore no one had remarked that he had but once been at West Putford. But he thought of it himself. He often longed to go thither, and as often feared to do so.
This letter has been a very selfish one, for it is all about myself. But you will forgive that now. God bless you. Your affectionate friend, P.S. I have said nothing to aunt Mary, except to tell her that the match is broken off; and she has kindly so kindly, abstained from any questions. Adela Gauntlet was all alone when she received this letter at West Putford.
Miss Gauntlet I hope the reader has not altogether forgotten Adela Gauntlet had also an aunt living at Littlebath, Miss Penelope Gauntlet; and it so happened, that very shortly after that memorable walk and the little scene that took place in the West Putford drawing-room, Adela visited her aunt.
And then Bertram did manage to escape; and taking his hat he walked away along that same river-path which led to West Putford that same path which Arthur Wilkinson had used to take when he went fishing in those happy early days before promotion had come to him, and the glories of manhood. But George was not thinking now of Arthur or of Adela.
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