by her pressure of it to her heart； he knew that she loved him。 Some natures are coarsened by love bestowed on them； others； like Ashurst's； are swayed and drawn； warmed and softened； almost exalted； by what they feel to be a sort of miracle。
And up there among the tors he was racked between the passionate desire to revel in this new sensation of spring fulfilled within him； and a vague but very real uneasiness。 At one moment he gave himself up completely to his pride at having captured this pretty； trustful； dewy…eyed thing！ At the next he thought with factitious solemnity： 'Yes； my boy！ But look out what you're doing！ You know what comes of it！'
Dusk dropped down without his noticingdusk on the carved； Assyrian… looking masses of the rocks。 And the voice of Nature said： 〃This is a new world for you！〃 As when a man gets up at four o'clock and goes out into a summer morning； and beasts； birds； trees stare at him and he feels as if all had been made new。
He stayed up there for hours； till it grew cold； then groped his way down the stones and heather roots to the road； back into the lane； and came again past the wild meadow to the orchard。 There he struck a match and looked at his watch。 Nearly twelve！ It was black and unstirring in there now； very different from the lingering； bird… befriended brightness of six hours ago！ And suddenly he saw this idyll of his with the eyes of the outer worldhad mental vision of Mrs。 Narracombe's snake…like neck turned； her quick dark glance taking it all in； her shrewd face hardening； saw the gipsy…like cousins coarsely mocking and distrustful； Joe stolid and furious； only the lame man； Jim； with the suffering eyes； seemed tolerable to his mind。 And the village pub！the gossiping matrons he passed on his walks； and thenhis own friendsRobert Carton's smile when he went off that morning ten days ago； so ironical and knowing！ Disgusting！ For a minute he literally hated this earthy； cynical world to which one belonged； willy…nilly。 The gate where he was leaning grew grey； a sort of shimmer passed be fore him and spread into the bluish darkness。 The moon！ He could just see it over the bank be hind； red； nearly round…a strange moon！ And turning away； he went up the lane which smelled of the night and cowdung and young leaves。 In the straw…yard he could see the dark shapes of cattle； broken by the pale sickles of their horns； like so many thin moons； fallen ends…up。 He unlatched the farm gate stealthily。 All was dark in the house。 Muffling his footsteps； he gained the porch； and； blotted against one of the yew trees； looked up at Megan's window。 It was open。 Was she sleeping； or lying awake perhaps； disturbed unhappy at his absence？ An owl hooted while he stood there peering up； and the sound seemed to fill the whole night； so quiet was all else； save for the never…ending murmur of the stream running below the orchard。 The cuckoos by day； and now the owlshow wonderfully they voiced this troubled ecstasy within him！ And suddenly he saw her at her window； looking out。 He moved a little from the yew tree； and whispered： 〃Megan！〃 She drew back； vanished； reappeared； leaning far down。 He stole forward on the grass patch； hit his shin against the green…painted chair； and held his breath at the sound。 The pale blur of her stretched…down arm and face did not stir； he moved the chair； and noiselessly mounted it。 By stretching up his arm he could just reach。 Her hand held the huge key of the front door； and he clasped that burning hand with the cold key in it。 He could just see her face； the glint of teeth between her lips； her tumbled hair。 She was still dressedpoor child； sitting up for him； no doubt！ 〃Pretty Megan！〃 Her hot； roughened fingers clung to his； her face had a strange； lost look。 To have been able to reach iteven with his hand！ The owl hooted； a scent of sweetbriar crept into his nostrils。 Then one of the farm dogs barked； her grasp relaxed； she shrank back。
〃Good…night； Megan！〃
〃Good…night； sir！〃 She was gone！ With a sigh he dropped back to earth； and sitting on that chair； took off his boots。 Nothing for it but to creep in and go to bed； yet for a long while he sat unmoving； his feet chilly in the dew； drunk on the memory of her lost； half… smiling face； and the clinging grip of her burning fingers； pressing the cold key into his hand。
5
He awoke feeling as if he had eaten heavily overnight； instead of having eaten nothing。 And far off； unreal； seemed yesterday's romance！ Yet it was a golden morning。 Full spring had burst at lastin one night the 〃goldie…cups；〃 as the little boys called them； seemed to have made the field their own； and from his window he could see apple blossoms covering the orchard as with a rose and white quilt。 He went down almost dreading to see Megan； and yet； when not she but Mrs。 Narracombe brought in his breakfast； he felt vexed and disappointed。 The woman's quick eye and snaky neck seemed to have a new alacrity this morning。 Had she noticed？
〃So you an' the moon went walkin' last night； Mr。 Ashurst！ Did ye have your supper anywheres？〃
Ashurst shook his head。
〃We kept it for you； but I suppose you was too busy in your brain to think o' such a thing as that？〃
Was she mocking him； in that voice of hers； which still kept some Welsh crispness against the invading burr of the West Country？ If she knew！ And at that moment he thought： 'No； no； I'll clear out。 I won't put myself in such a beastly false position。'
But； after breakfast； the longing to see Megan began and increased with every minute； together with fear lest something should have been said to her which had spoiled everything。 Sinister that she had not appeared； not given him even a glimpse of her！ And the love poem； whose manufacture had been so important and absorbing yesterday afternoon under the apple trees； now seemed so paltry that he tore it up and rolled it into pipe spills。 What had he known of love； till she seized his hand and kissed it！ And nowwhat did he not know？ But to write of it seemed mere insipidity！ He went up to his bedroom to get a book； and his heart began to beat violently； for she was in there making the bed。 He stood in the doorway watching； and suddenly； with turbulent joy； he saw her stoop and kiss his pillow； just at the hollow made by his head last night。
How let her know he had seen that pretty act of devotion？ And yet； if she heard him stealing away； it would be even worse。 She took the pillow up； holding it as if reluctant to shake out the impress of his cheek； dropped it； and turned round。
〃Megan！〃
She put her hands up to her cheeks； but her eyes seemed to look right into him。 He had never before realised the depth and purity and touching faithfulness in those dew…bright eyes； and he stammered：
〃It was sweet of you to wait up for me last night。〃
She still said nothing； and he stammered on：
〃I was wandering about on the moor； it was such a jolly night。 I I've just come up for a book。〃
Then； the kiss he had seen her give the pillow afflicted him with sudden headiness； and he went up to her。 Touching her eyes with his lips； he thought with queer excitement： 'I've done it！ Yesterday all was suddenanyhow； but nowI've done it！' The girl let her forehead rest against his lips； which moved downwards till they reached hers。 That first real lover's kiss…strange； wonderful； still almost innocentin which heart did it make the most disturbance？
〃Come to the big apple tree to…night； after they've gone to bed。 Megan…promise！〃
She whispered back： 〃I promise。〃
Then； scared at her white face； scared at everything； he let her go； and went downstairs again。 Yes！ He had done it now！ Accepted her love； declared his own！ He went out to the green chair as devoid of a book as ever； and there he sat staring vacantly before him； triumphant and remorseful； while under his nose and behind his back the work of the farm went on。 How long he had been sitting in that curious state of vacancy he had no notion when he saw Joe standing a little behind him to the right。 The youth had evidently come from hard work in the fields； and stood shifting his feet； breathing loudly； his face coloured like a setting sun； and his arms； below the rolled…up sleeves of his blue shirt； showing the hue and furry sheen of ripe peaches。 His red lips were open； his blue eyes with their flaxen lashes stared fixedly at Ashurst； who said ironically：
〃Well； Joe； anything I can do for you？〃
〃Yeas。〃
〃What； then？〃
〃Yu can goo away from yere。 Us don' want yu。〃
Ashurst's face； never too humble； assumed its most lordly look。
〃Very good of you； but； do you know； I prefer the others should speak for themselves。〃
The youth moved a pace or two nearer； and the scent of his honest heat afflicted Ashurst's nostrils。
〃What d'yu stay yere for？〃
〃Because it pleases me。〃
〃Twon't please yu when I've bashed yure head in！〃
〃Indeed！ When would you like to begin that？〃
Joe answered only with the loudness of his breathing； but his eyes looked like those of a young and angry bull。 Then a sort of spasm seemed to convulse his face。
〃Megan don' want yu。〃
A rush of jealousy； of contempt； and anger with this thick； loud… breathing rustic got the better of Ashurst's self…possession； he jumped up； and pushed back his chair。
〃You can go to the devil！〃
And as he said those simple words； he saw Megan in the doorway with a tiny brown spaniel puppy in her arms。 She came up to him quickly：
〃Its eyes are blue！〃 she said。
Joe turned away； the back of his neck was literally crimson。
Ashurst put his finger to the mouth of the little brown bullfrog of a creature in her arms。 How cosy it looked against her！
〃It's fond of you already。 Ah I Megan； everything is fond of you。〃
〃What was Joe saying to you； please？〃
〃Telling me to go away； because you didn't want me here。〃
She stamped her foot； then looked up at Ashurst。 At that adoring look he felt his nerves quiver； just as if he had seen a moth scorching its wings。
〃To…night！〃 he said。 〃Don't forget！〃
〃No。〃 And smothering her face against the puppy's little fat； brown body； she slipped back into the house。
Ashurst wandered down