Personal intercourse with such as she could take no lower form than intellectual communion, and mutual explorations of the world of thought.

Since he could not call at her father's, having no practical views, cursory encounters in the lane, in the wood, coming and going to and from church, or in passing her dwelling, were what the acquaintance would have to feed on.
Such anticipated glimpses of her now and then realized themselves in the event.

Rencounters of not more than a minute's duration, frequently repeated, will build up mutual interest, even an intimacy, in a lonely place.

Theirs grew as imperceptibly as the tree-twigs budded.

There never was a particular moment at which it could be said they became friends; yet a delicate understanding now existed between two who in the winter had been strangers.
Spring weather came on rather suddenly, the unsealing of buds that had long been swollen accomplishing itself in the space of one warm night.
The rush of sap in the veins of the trees could almost be heard.