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her hearing。〃
III
That was how I first asked Margaret Lammas to be my wife； and I
will agree with anyone who says I behaved very foolishly。 But I
have not repented of it； and I never shall。 I have long ago
understood that I was out of my mind that evening； but I think my
temporary insanity on that occasion has had the effect of making me
a saner man ever since。 Her manner turned my head； for it was so
different from what I had expected。 To hear this lovely creature；
who； in my imagination； was a heroine of romance； if not of
tragedy； talking familiarly and laughing readily was more than my
equanimity could bear； and I lost my head as well as my heart。 But
when I went back to England in the spring； I went to make certain
arrangements at the Castlecertain changes and improvements which
would be absolutely necessary。 I had won the race for which I had
entered myself so rashly； and we were to be married in June。
Whether the change was due to the orders I had left with the
gardener and the rest of the servants； or to my own state of mind；
I cannot tell。 At all events； the old place did not look the same
to me when I opened my window on the morning after my arrival。
There were the gray walls below me and the gray turrets flanking
the huge building； there were the fountains； the marble causeways；
the smooth basins； the tall box hedges； the water lilies and the
swans； just as of old。 But there was something else there； too
something in the air； in the water； and in the greenness that I did
not recognizea light over everything by which everything was
transfigured。 The clock in the tower struck seven； and the strokes
of the ancient bell sounded like a wedding chime。 The air sang
with the thrilling treble of the song…birds； with the silvery music
of the plashing water and the softer harmony of the leaves stirred
by the fresh morning wind。 There was a smell of new…mown hay from
the distant meadows； and of blooming roses from the beds below；
wafted up together to my window。 I stood in the pure sunshine and
drank the air and all the sounds and the odors that were in it； and
I looked down at my garden and said： 〃It is Paradise； after all。〃
I think the men of old were right when they called heaven a garden；
and Eden a garden inhabited by one man and one woman； the Earthly
Paradise。
I turned away； wondering what had become of the gloomy memories I
had always associated with my home。 I tried to recall the
impression of my nurse's horrible prophecy before the death of my
parentsan impression which hitherto had been vivid enough。 I
tried to remember my old self； my dejection； my listlessness； my
bad luck； my petty disappointments。 I endeavored to force myself
to think as I used to think； if only to satisfy myself that I had
not lost my individuality。 But I succeeded in none of these
efforts。 I was a different man； a changed being； incapable of
sorrow； of ill luck； or of sadness。 My life had been a dream； not
evil； but infinitely gloomy and hopeless。 It was now a reality；
full of hope； gladness； and all manner of good。 My home had been
like a tomb； to…day it was Paradise。 My heart had been as though
it had not existed； to…day it beat with strength and youth and the
certainty of realized happiness。 I reveled in the beauty of the
world； and called loveliness out of the future to enjoy it before
time should bring it to me； as a traveler in the plains looks up to
the mountains； and already tastes the cool air through the dust of
the road。
Here； I thought； we will live and live for years。 There we will
sit by the fountain toward evening and in the deep moonlight。 Down
those paths we will wander together。 On those benches we will rest
and talk。 Among those eastern hills we will ride through the soft
twilight； and in the old house we will tell tales on winter nights；
when the logs burn high； and the holly berries are red； and the old
clock tolls out the dying year。 On these old steps； in these dark
passages and stately rooms； there will one day be the sound of
little pattering feet； and laughing child voices will ring up to
the vaults of the ancient hall。 Those tiny footsteps shall not be
slow and sad as mine were； nor shall the childish words be spoken
in an awed whisper。 No gloomy Welshwoman shall people the dusky
corners with weird horrors； nor utter horrid prophecies of death
and ghastly things。 All shall be young； and fresh； and joyful； and
happy； and we will turn the old luck again； and forget that there
was ever any sadness。
So I thought； as I looked out of my window that morning and for
many mornings after that； and every day it all seemed more real
than ever before； and much nearer。 But the old nurse looked at me
askance； and muttered odd sayings about the Woman of the Water。 I
cared little what she said； for I was far too happy。
At last the time came near for the wedding。 Lady Bluebell and all
the tribe of Bluebells； as Margaret called them； were at Bluebell
Grange； for we had determined to be married in the country； and to
come straight to the Castle afterwards。 We cared little for
traveling； and not at all for a crowded ceremony at St。 George's in
Hanover Square； with all the tiresome formalities afterwards。 I
used to ride over to the Grange every day； and very often Margaret
would come with her aunt and some of her cousins to the Castle。 I
was suspicious of my own taste； and was only too glad to let her
have her way about the alterations and improvements in our home。
We were to be married on the thirtieth of July； and on the evening
of the twenty…eighth Margaret drove over with some of the Bluebell
party。 In the long summer twilight we all went out into the
garden。 Naturally enough； Margaret and I were left to ourselves；
and we wandered down by the marble basins。
〃It is an odd coincidence；〃 I said； 〃it was on this very night last
year that I first saw you。〃
〃Considering that it is the month of July；〃 answered Margaret with
a laugh； 〃and that we have been here almost every day； I don't
think the coincidence is so extraordinary； after all。〃
〃No； dear；〃 said I； 〃I suppose not。 I don't know why it struck me。
We shall very likely be here a year from today； and a year from
that。 The odd thing； when I think of it； is that you should be
here at all。 But my luck has turned。 I ought not to think
anything odd that happens now that I have you。 It is all sure to
be good。〃
〃A slight change in your ideas since that remarkable performance of
yours in Paris；〃 said Margaret。 〃Do you know； I thought you were
the most extraordinary man I had ever met。〃
〃I thought you were the most charming woman I had ever seen。 I
naturally did not want to lose any time in frivolities。 I took you
at your word； I followed your advice； I asked you to marry me； and
this is the delightful resultwhat's the matter？〃
Margaret had started suddenly； and