its purple raiment; the honeysuckle arch was a mass of red and white
blossoms trumpeting their fragrance; beside it a great spreading
rose-bush was yellow with golden treasure; the velvety, emerald turf was
dotted with white and gold; the rose-bushes were weighted with opening
buds or perfect flowers, and the warm, soft air was vivid with sunlight,
and sweet with mingled odors.

So they could hardly have done anything but agree upon the beauty of the
little court, even if they had wanted to quarrel. But for the hundredth
time it struck him that it was very remarkable they should so often think
alike. When he made mention of this remarkable fact, she flashed up at
him one of her eager, brilliant glances. Then, meeting something more
than usual in his look, she quickly dropped her eyes again, and over her
manner there came that mystifying air of shyness and reserve, as if some
invisible attendant had wrapped about her an impenetrable veil. In their
early acquaintance he had often noticed that quick and baffling change in
her manner, and had liked it, because it seemed to tell of a refined and
sensitive nature. From their later frank and friendly intercourse it had
been absent, and now, when it appeared again and seemed to take her away
from him, his heart beat fast with the longing to tear the veil away.

For a moment she stood with her gaze resolutely upon the ground and her
expression and figure impassive. But she felt his eyes upon her, and her
brown fingers trembled over the yellow rose in her hand. Suddenly, as if
compelled, she lifted her face and the look in his eyes called all her
heart into hers. For a second they stood so, revealing to each other
their inmost feeling, and then, covering her face with her hands, she ran
into the house. The Lieutenant picked up the yellow rose she had dropped
and went out through the street entrance, a very thoughtful look upon his
countenance.