Why , at least , did no smile of welcome brighten upon his face ? She was come , the maid whose soul , according to the old and beautiful idea , had been severed from his own , and whom in all his vague but passionate desires he yearned to meet . Her only could he love with a perfect love , him only could she receive into the depths of her heart , and now her image was faintly blushing in the fountain by his side ; should it pass away , its happy lustre would never gleam upon his life again . `` How sound he sleeps ! '' murmured the girl . She departed , but did not trip along the road so lightly as when she came . Now , this girl 's father was a thriving country merchant in the neighborhood , and happened at that identical time to be looking out for just such a young man as David Swan . Had David formed a wayside acquaintance with the daughter , he would have become the father 's clerk , and all else in natural succession . So here , again , had good fortune -- the best of fortunes -- stolen so near that her garments brushed against him , and he knew nothing of the matter . The girl was hardly out of sight when two men turned aside beneath the maple shade . Both had dark faces set off by cloth caps , which were drawn down aslant over their brows . Their dresses were shabby , yet had a certain smartness . These were a couple of rascals who got their living by whatever the devil sent them , and now , in the interim of other business , had staked the joint profits of their next piece of villainy on a game of cards which was to have been decided here under the trees . But , finding David asleep by the spring , one of the rogues whispered to his fellow : `` Hist ! Do you see that bundle under his head ? '' The other villain nodded , winked and leered . `` I 'll bet you a horn of brandy , '' said the first , `` that the chap has either a pocketbook or a snug little hoard of small change stowed away amongst his shirts . And if not there , we will find it in his pantaloons pocket . '' `` But how if he wakes ? '' said the other .
His companion thrust aside his waistcoat , pointed XXXXX the handle of a dirk and nodded .
against along as at into near of over that to