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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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in the chalk-pit as the breeze ruffled it; the smoking team with the waggon of old hay, stopping to breathe on the hill-top, and shaking their bells musically; the whitened slopes and sweeps of Down-land lying against the dark sky, as if they were drawn on a huge slate! I found Agnes alone. The little girls had gone to their own homes now, and she was alone by the fire, reading. She put down her book on seeing me come in; and having welcomed me as usual, took her work-basket and sat in one of the old-fashioned windows. I sat beside her on the window-seat, and we talked of what I was doing, and when it would be done, and of the progress I had made since my last visit. Agnes was very cheerful; and laughingly predicted that I should soon become too famous to be talked to, on such subjects. 'So I make the most of the present time, you see,' said Agnes, 'and talk to you while I may.' As I looked at her beautiful face, observant of her work, she raised her mild clear eyes, and saw that I was looking at her. 'You are thoughtful today, Trotwood!' 'Agnes, shall I tell you what about? I came to tell you.' She put aside her work, as she was used to do when we were seriously discussing anything; and gave me her whole attention. 'My dear Agnes, do you doubt my being true to you?' 'No!' she answered, with a look of astonishment. 'Do you doubt my being what I always have been to you?' 'No!' she answered, as before. 'Do you remember that I tried to tell you, when I came home, what a debt of gratitude I owed you, dearest Agnes, and how fervently I felt towards you?' 'I remember it,' she said, gently, 'very well.' 'You have a secret,' said I. 'Let me share it, Agnes.' |
