The quaint old garden had sheltered many pairs of lovers , and seemed expressly made for them , so sunny and secluded was it , with nothing but the tower to overlook them , and the wide lake to carry away the echo of their words , as it rippled by below . For an hour this new pair walked and talked , or rested on the wall , enjoying the sweet influences which gave such a charm to time and place , and when an unromantic dinner bell warned them away , Amy felt as if she left her burden of loneliness and sorrow behind her in the chateau garden . The moment Mrs. Carrol saw the girl 's altered face , she was illuminated with a new idea , and exclaimed to herself , `` Now I understand it all -- the child has been pining for young Laurence . Bless my heart , I never thought of such a thing ! '' With praiseworthy discretion , the good lady said nothing , and betrayed no sign of enlightenment , but cordially urged Laurie to stay and begged Amy to enjoy his society , for it would do her more good than so much solitude . Amy was a model of docility , and as her aunt was a good deal occupied with Flo , she was left to entertain her friend , and did it with more than her usual success . At Nice , Laurie had lounged and Amy had scolded . At Vevay , Laurie was never idle , but always walking , riding , boating , or studying in the most energetic manner , while Amy admired everything he did and followed his example as far and as fast as she could . He said the change was owing to the climate , and she did not contradict him , being glad of a like excuse for her own recovered health and spirits . The invigorating air did them both good , and much exercise worked wholesome changes in minds as well as bodies . They seemed to get clearer views of life and duty up there among the everlasting hills . The fresh winds blew away desponding doubts , delusive fancies , and moody mists . The warm spring sunshine brought out all sorts of aspiring ideas , tender hopes , and happy thoughts . The lake seemed to wash away the troubles of the past , and the grand old mountains to look benignly down upon them saying , `` Little children , love one another . '' In spite of the new sorrow , it was a very happy time , so happy that Laurie could not bear to disturb it by a word . It took him a little while to recover from his surprise at the cure of his first , and as he had firmly believed , his last and only love . He consoled himself for the seeming disloyalty by the thought that Jo 's sister was almost the same as Jo 's self , and the conviction that it would have been impossible to love any other woman but Amy so soon and so well . His first wooing had been of the tempestuous order , and he looked back upon it as if through a long vista of years with a feeling of compassion blended with regret . He was not ashamed of it , but put it away as one of the bitter-sweet experiences of his life , for which he could be grateful when the pain was over . His second wooing , he resolved , should be as calm and simple as possible .
There was no need of having a scene , hardly any need of telling XXXXX that he loved her , she knew it without words and had given him his answer long ago .
Amy Carrol Laurence Nice docility first hour left second years