`` In Paul 's last letter he spoke of going with you to visit an old ... friend of mine ... Miss Lewis at the stone house in Grafton . Do you know her well ? '' `` Yes , indeed , she is a very dear friend of mine , '' was Anne 's demure reply , which gave no hint of the sudden thrill that tingled over her from head to foot at Mr. Irving 's question . Anne `` felt instinctively '' that romance was peeping at her around a corner . Mr. Irving rose and went to the window , looking out on a great , golden , billowing sea where a wild wind was harping . For a few moments there was silence in the little dark-walled room . Then he turned and looked down into Anne 's sympathetic face with a smile , half-whimsical , half-tender . `` I wonder how much you know , '' he said . `` I know all about it , '' replied Anne promptly . `` You see , '' she explained hastily , `` Miss Lavendar and I are very intimate . She would n't tell things of such a sacred nature to everybody . We are kindred spirits . '' `` Yes , I believe you are . Well , I am going to ask a favor of you . I would like to go and see Miss Lavendar if she will let me . Will you ask her if I may come ? '' Would she not ? Oh , indeed she would ! Yes , this was romance , the very , the real thing , with all the charm of rhyme and story and dream . It was a little belated , perhaps , like a rose blooming in October which should have bloomed in June ; but none the less a rose , all sweetness and fragrance , with the gleam of gold in its heart .
Never did Anne 's feet bear her on a more willing errand than on that walk through the beechwoods to XXXXX the next morning .
Anne Grafton Irving Lavendar Lewis Paul moments romance sea window