The old man stopped short, and looked at her and said: "You really like it then ?" "Yes," she said, looking very much astonished, "Don't you ?" "Well," said he, "perhaps I do.

I did, at any rate, when I was younger; but now I think I should like it cooler." She said nothing, and went on, the night growing about as dark as it would be; till just at the rise of the hill we came to a hedge with a gate in it, which the old man unlatched and led us into a garden, at the end of which we could see a little house, one of whose little windows was already yellow with candlelight.

We could see even under the doubtful light of the moon and the last of the western glow that the garden was stuffed full of flowers; and the fragrance it gave out in the gathering coolness was so wonderfully sweet, that it seemed the very heart of the delight of the June dusk; so that we three stopped instinctively, and Clara gave forth a little sweet "O," like a bird beginning to sing.
"What's the matter ?" said the old man, a little testily, and pulling at her hand.

"There's no dog; or have you trodden on a thorn and hurt your foot ?" "No, no, neighbour," she said; "but how sweet, how sweet it is!" "Of course it is," said he, "but do you care so much for that ?" She laughed out musically, and we followed suit in our gruffer voices; and then she said: "Of course I do, neighbour; don't you ?" "Well, I don't know," quoth the old fellow; then he added, as if somewhat ashamed of himself: "Besides, you know, when the waters are out and all Runnymede is flooded, it's none so pleasant." "_I_ should like it," quoth Dick.

"What a jolly sail one would get about here on the floods on a bright frosty January morning!" "_Would_ you like it ?" said our host.