I .
The Return THERE WAS SOMETHING about which made seem more attractive than .
Perhaps it was the simple fact of acquaintance with which made it so attaching , and gave such interest to and , and .
made the most of seaward view , and there was a gayety and determined floweriness in bits of ; the small-paned high windows in the peaks of steep gables were like knowing eyes that watched and beyond , or looked northward all along and .
When one really knows and , it is like becoming acquainted with .
The process of falling in love at first sight is as final as it is swift in such a case , but the growth of true friendship may be a lifelong affair .
After a first brief visit made two or three summers before in the course of a yachting cruise , returned to find , the same quaintness of ; all that mixture of remoteness , and childish certainty of being the centre of civilization of which affectionate dreams had told .
One evening in June , landed upon .
The tide was high , there was , and followed with subdued excitement up .
II .
LATER , THERE WAS only one fault to find with this choice of , and that was complete lack of seclusion .
At first , appeared to be retired and sheltered enough from , behind bushy bit of , in which all the blooming things , two or three gay hollyhocks and some London-pride , were pushed back against the gray-shingled wall .
was and puzzling to , the few flowers being put at a disadvantage by so much greenery ; but the discovery was soon made that was an ardent lover of herbs , both wild and tame , and the sea-breezes blew into the low end-window of laden with not only sweet-brier and sweet-mary , but balm and sage and borage and mint , wormwood and southernwood .
If had occasion to step into the far corner of , trod heavily upon thyme , and made its fragrant presence known with all the rest .
Being , full skirts brushed and bent almost every slender stalk that feet missed .
could always tell when was stepping about there , even when were half awake in the morning , and learned to know , in the course of a few weeks ’ experience , in exactly which corner of might be .
At one side of were other growths of a rustic pharmacopoeia , great treasures and rarities among the commoner herbs .
There were some strange and pungent odors that roused a dim sense and remembrance of something in the forgotten past .
Some of these might once have belonged to sacred and mystic rites , and have had some occult knowledge handed with them down the centuries ; but now they pertained only to humble compounds brewed at intervals with molasses or vinegar or spirits in a small caldron on ’s stove .
They were dispensed to .
One nostrum was called the Indian remedy , and its price was but fifteen cents ; the whispered directions could be heard as passed the windows .
With most remedies was allowed to depart unadmonished from , being ; but with certain vials gave cautions , standing in the doorway , and there were other doses which had to be accompanied on their healing way as far as the gate , while muttered long chapters of directions , and kept up an air of secrecy and importance to the last .
It may not have been only the common aids of humanity with which tried to cope ; it seemed sometimes as if love and hate and jealousy and adverse winds at might also find their proper remedies among the curious wild-looking plants in .
and were upon the best of terms .
may have counted upon the unfavorable effect of certain potions which should find opportunity in counteracting ; at any rate , now and then stopped and exchanged greetings with over the picket fence .
The conversation became at once professional after the briefest preliminaries , and would stand twirling a sweet-scented sprig in fingers , and make suggestive jokes , perhaps about faith in a too persistent course of thoroughwort elixir , in which professed such firm belief as sometimes to endanger the life and usefulness of .
To arrive at late in June , when the busy herb-gathering season was just beginning , was also to arrive in the early prime of ’s activity in the brewing of old-fashioned spruce beer .
This cooling and refreshing drink had been brought to wonderful perfection through a long series of experiments ; it had won immense local fame , and the supplies for its manufacture were always giving out and having to be replenished .
For various reasons , the seclusion and uninterrupted days which had been looked forward to proved to be very rare in this otherwise delightful corner of .
and had made shrewd business agreement on the basis of a simple cold luncheon at noon , and liberal restitution in the matter of hot suppers , to provide for which might sometimes be seen hurrying down , late in the day , with cunner line in hand .
It was soon found that this arrangement made large allowance for ’s slow herb-gathering progresses through and .
were pretty steady in hot weather , and there were many demands for different soothing syrups and elixirs with which the unwise curiosity of early residence had made acquainted .
Knowing to be , who had little beside this slender business and the income from to maintain , one ’s energies and even interest were quickly bestowed , until it became a matter of course that should go afield every pleasant day , and that should answer all peremptory knocks at the side door .
In taking an occasional wisdom-giving stroll in ’s company , and in acting as during frequent absences , found the July days fly fast , and it was not until felt confronted with too great pride and pleasure in the display , one night , of two dollars and twenty-seven cents which had taken in during the day , that remembered a long piece of writing , sadly belated now , which was bound to do .
To have been patted kindly on the shoulder and called “ ’ , ” to have been offered a surprise of early mushrooms for supper , to have had all the glory of making two dollars and twenty-seven cents in a single day , and then to renounce it all and withdraw from these pleasant successes , needed much resolution .
Literary employments are so vexed with uncertainties at best , and it was not until the voice of conscience sounded louder in ears than on that said unkind words of withdrawal to .
only became more wistfully affectionate than ever in expressions , and looked as disappointed as expected when frankly told that could no longer enjoy the pleasure of what called “ seein ’ . ”
felt that was cruel to in curtailing liberty in this most important season for harvesting the different wild herbs that were so much counted upon to ease their winter ails .
“ Well , , ” said sorrowfully , “ ’ve took great advantage o ’ your bein ’ here .
ai n’t had such a season for years , but have never had could so trust .
All lack is a few qualities , but with time ’d gain judgment an ’ experience , an ’ be very able in the business .
’d stand right here an ’ say it to . ”
and were not separated or estranged by the change in business relations ; on the contrary , a deeper intimacy seemed to begin .
do not know what herb of the night it was that used sometimes to send out a penetrating odor late in the evening , after the dew had fallen , and the moon was high , and the cool air came up from .
Then would feel that must talk to , and was only too glad to listen .
both fell under the spell , and either stood outside the window , or made an errand to , and told , it might be very commonplace news of the day , or , as happened one misty summer night , all that lay deepest in heart .
It was in this way that came to know that had loved .
“ No , , could never think of , ” said .
“ When was young together did n’t favor the match , an ’ done everything could to part ; and thought both married well , but ’ t wa ’n’ t what either one of wanted most ; an ’ now ’re left alone again , an ’ might have had each other all the time .
was above bein ’ , an ’ prospered more than most ; come of , an ’ lot was plain an ’ hard-workin ’ .
ai n’t seen for some years ; ’s forgot youthful feelin ’s , expect , but ’s heart is different ; them feelin ’s comes back when think ’ve done with ‘ em , as sure as spring comes with the year .
An ’ ’ve always had ways of hearin ’ about . ”
stood in the centre of a braided rug , and its rings of black and gray seemed to circle about feet in the dim light .
height and massiveness in gave the look of , while the strange fragrance of the mysterious herb blew in from .