All in a garden fair; the simple story of three boys ... - University Library

156 ALL AV A GARDEN FAIR.
"smtteii it?' Why, his secret had escaped him,
but he knew it not.
' Allen !
' cried Claire, becoming, for tlie
moment, Delilah or Vivien, clasping her hands
to her heart, ' what must it be actually to become—
to be—a Poet ! Oh ! oh !
She did not over-act her part a bit. In
fact, she was so much of an artist that she
half-unconsciously under-acted it. There was
enous^h feelino^ in her voice, in lier gesture,
and her attitude as she clasped her hands ; but
not too much. There was less emotion than
Allen himself would have put into it if he had
dared to say all he felt, yet more than he
Avould have expected from Claire.
' ' To be a Poet, Allen ! she repeated.
The conscious swain made no reply; his
cheek became crimson; he trembled; the tears
even came into his eyes by reason of tlie great
yearning that possessed him to tell Cl.iire what
she already knew.
She went on, watching him. Surely he
would confide in her ;
he would confess.