But , though she watched long , she had never seen it coming sailing back . That vigil had taken girlhood from her eyes , yet she kept her youth to a marvellous degree . Perhaps this was because she always seemed to preserve that attitude of delighted surprise towards life which most of us leave behind in childhood -- an attitude which not only made Rosemary herself seem young , but flung a pleasing illusion of youth over the consciousness of every one who talked to her . John Meredith was startled by her loveliness and Rosemary was startled by his presence . She had never thought she would find anyone by that remote spring , least of all the recluse of Glen St. Mary manse . She almost dropped the heavy armful of books she was carrying home from the Glen lending library , and then , to cover her confusion , she told one of those small fibs which even the best of women do tell at times . `` I -- I came for a drink , '' she said , stammering a little , in answer to Mr. Meredith 's grave `` good evening , Miss West . '' She felt that she was an unpardonable goose and she longed to shake herself . But John Meredith was not a vain man and he knew she would likely have been as much startled had she met old Elder Clow in that unexpected fashion . Her confusion put him at ease and he forgot to be shy ; besides , even the shyest of men can sometimes be quite audacious in moonlight . `` Let me get you a cup , '' he said smiling . There was a cup near by , if he had only known it , a cracked , handleless blue cup secreted under the maple by the Rainbow Valley children ; but he did not know it , so he stepped out to one of the birch-trees and stripped a bit of its white skin away . Deftly he fashioned this into a three-cornered cup , filled it from the spring , and handed it to Rosemary . Rosemary took it and drank every drop to punish herself for her fib , for she was not in the least thirsty , and to drink a fairly large cupful of water when you are not thirsty is somewhat of an ordeal . Yet the memory of that draught was to be very pleasant to Rosemary . In after years it seemed to her that there was something sacramental about it . Perhaps this was because of what the minister did when she handed him back the cup . He stooped again and filled it and drank of it himself . It was only by accident that he put his lips just where Rosemary had put hers , and Rosemary knew it . Nevertheless , it had a curious significance for her .
They two had drunk XXXXX the same cup .
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