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 to face . There was a singular contrast in their two figures ; he dark and picturesque , -- one who had battled with the world , -- whom all suns had shone upon , and whom all winds had blown on a varied course ; she neat , comely , and quiet , -- quiet even in her agitation , -- as if all her emotions had been subdued to the peaceful tenor of her life . Yet their faces , all unlike as they were , had an expression that seemed not so alien , -- a glow of kindred feeling , flashing upward anew from half-extinguished embers . `` You are welcome home ! '' said Faith Egerton . But Cranfield did not immediately answer ; for his eye had been caught by an ornament in the shape of a Heart , which Faith wore as a brooch upon her bosom . The material was the ordinary white quartz ; and he recollected having himself shaped it out of one of those Indian arrowheads , which are so often found in the ancient haunts of the red men .
It was precisely XXXXX the pattern of that worn by the visionary Maid .
among at beneath from like on over through till upon