They had gone all through the dark rooms
which overlook the Forum, and had reached the garden upon the top, with
its cypress and cool shade. Here Halcyone sat down on a bench, looking
over the wonderful scene. She wanted to re-read a letter from her Aunt
Roberta which had arrived as they were starting out.
The old ladies were delighted with their accession to a modest fortune,
the matter was turning out well, and they hoped to have their ancient
brougham repainted and a quiet horse to draw it, before very long, so
that, even when it rained, they could have the pleasure of going to
church.
William, the Aunt Roberta added, was really growing a little old for so
many duties, and would, under the new and more prosperous _regime_,
confine himself to being only butler. Halcyone would find several
changes on her return; among them the four gates had been mended!
As she read this part of the letter, Halcyone almost sighed! The gates,
especially the one of the beech avenue, had always been such friends of
hers, she knew and loved each crack. And then her thoughts wandered, as
ever, to her lover.
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