`` I will consider of your proposal , '' replied Ralph Cranfield , hurriedly , `` and will make known my decision within three days . '' After a few more words , the village dignitary and his companions took their leave . But to Cranfield 's fancy their images were still present , and became more and more invested with the dim awfulness of figures which had first appeared to him in a dream , and afterwards had shown themselves in his waking moments , assuming homely aspects among familiar things . His mind dwelt upon the features of the Squire , till they grew confused with those of the visionary Sage , and one appeared but the shadow of the other . The same visage , he now thought , had looked forth upon him from the Pyramid of Cheops ; the same form had beckoned to him among the colonnades of the Alhambra ; the same figure had mistily revealed itself through the ascending steam of the Great Geyser . At every effort of his memory he recognized some trait of the dreamy Messenger of Destiny , in this pompous , bustling , self-important , little great man of the village . Amid such musings Ralph Cranfield sat all day in the cottage , scarcely hearing and vaguely answering his mother 's thousand questions about his travels and adventures . At sunset he roused himself to take a stroll , and , passing the aged elm-tree , his eye was again caught by the semblance of a hand , pointing downward at the half-obliterated inscription . As Cranfield walked down the street of the village , the level sunbeams threw his shadow far before him ; and he fancied that , as his shadow walked among distant objects , so had there been a presentiment stalking in advance of him throughout his life . And when he drew near each object , over which his tall shadow had preceded him , still it proved to be -- one of the familiar recollections of his infancy and youth . Every crook in the pathway was remembered . Even the more transitory characteristics of the scene were the same as in bygone days . A company of cows were grazing on the grassy roadside , and refreshed him with their fragrant breath . `` It is sweeter , '' thought he , `` than the perfume which was wafted to our shipp from the Spice Islands . '' The round little figure of a child rolled from a doorway , and lay laughing almost beneath Cranfield 's feet . The dark and stately man stooped down , and , lifting the infant , restored him to his mother 's arms . `` The children , '' said he to himself , and sighed , and smiled , -- `` the children are to be my charge ! '' And while a flow of natural feeling gushed like a wellspring in his heart , he came to a dwelling which he could nowise forbear to enter . A sweet voice , which seemed to come from a deep and tender soul , was warbling a plaintive little air , within . He bent his head , and passed through the lowly door .
As his foot sounded upon the threshold , a young woman advanced from the dusky interior of the house , at first hastily , and then with a more uncertain step , till they met face XXXXX face .
Amid As about at beneath in near through to with