They were at the lane gate now , and Harrington had to open it and let her pass through . He felt quite desperate as he watched her trip up through the rows of apple trees , her blue gingham skirt brushing the lush grasses where a lacy tangle of sunbeams and shadows lay . Bobbles and Ted came running to meet her and the three , hand in hand , disappeared from sight . Harrington went back to the house , feeling that life was flat , stale , and unprofitable . That evening at the tea table he caught himself wondering what it would be like to see Mary Hayden sitting at his table in place of Sarah King , with Bobbles and Ted on either hand . Then he found out what was the matter with him . He was in love , fathoms deep , with the blue-eyed widow ! Presumably the pigs were shut up the next day , for Harrington 's garden was invaded no more . He stood it for a week and then surrendered at discretion . He filled a basket with early strawberries and went across to the Hayden place , boldly enough to all appearance , but with his heart thumping like any schoolboy 's . The front door stood hospitably open , flanked by rows of defiant red and yellow hollyhocks . Harrington paused on the step , with his hand outstretched to knock . Somewhere inside he heard a low sobbing . Forgetting all about knocking , he stepped softly in and walked to the door of the little sitting-room . Bobbles was standing behind him in the middle of the kitchen but Harrington did not see him . He was looking at Mary Hayden , who was sitting by the table in the room with her arms flung out over it and her head bowed on them . She was crying softly in a hopeless fashion . Harrington put down his strawberries . `` Mary ! '' he exclaimed .
Mrs. XXXXX straightened herself up with a start and looked at him , her lips quivering and her eyes full of tears .
Bobbles Harrington Hayden King Mary Ted evening sitting-room sunbeams week