Thus was healed my last lingering pain--I was thenceforward entirely satisfied.
I think we parted that night as we had never parted before; feeling that the trial of our friendship--the great trial, perhaps, of any friendship--had come and passed, safely: that whatever new ties might gather round each, our two hearts would cleave together until death.
The next morning rose, as I have seen many a morning rise at Enderley--misty and grey; but oh, so heavenly fair! with a pearly network of dewy gossamer under foot, and overhead countless thistle downs flying about, like fairy chariots hurrying out of sight of the sun, which had only mounted high enough above the Flat to touch the horizon of hills opposite, and the tops of my four poplars, leaving Rose Cottage and the valley below it all in morning shadow.

John called me to go with him on the common; his voice sounded so cheerful outside my door that it was with a glad heart I rose and went.
He chose his old walk--his "terrace." No chance now of meeting the light figure coming tripping along the level hill.

All that dream was now over.

He did not speak of it--nor I.

He seemed contented--or, at least, thoroughly calmed down; except that the sweet composure of his mien had settled into the harder gravity of manhood.