Wilfrid inwardly bade himself do so.

He had seen her, had talked with her; what more for either?
Yet it was beyond his power to stand here and see her walk away from him.

Things were stirring in his heart and mind of which he refused to take cognisance; he would grant nothing more than a sense of pleasure in hearing once again a voice which had so long been buried, and there was no harm in that.

Was not his strongest feeling merely surprise at having met her thus?
Even yet he found a difficulty in realising that it was she with whom he spoke; had he closed his eyes and then looked round for her in vain it would only have appeared the natural waking from intense reverie.

Why not dream on as long as he might?
'May I not walk as far as the bridge with you ?' he asked.