But the bar of three months since had not been removed, and he hesitated to speak.

His two days' silence was unintelligible to his friend and caused her inexpressible anxiety.

Could any words of hers have displeased him?
Or was he seriously unwell?
She wrote on August 30th a little letter asking "the alms of just one line" to relieve her fears.

When snow-wreaths are loosened, a breath will bring down the avalanche.

It was impossible to receive this appeal and not to declare briefly, decisively, his unqualified trust in her, his entire devotion, his assured knowledge of what would constitute his supreme happiness.
Miss Barrett's reply is perfect in its disinterested safe-guarding of his freedom and his future good as she conceived it.