The Green Bough

lding itself in her mind. One couplet already had formed a rounded phrase. It had been revolving in her thoughts all

he trees as

were gre

the full matter of her verse. She could think of no more. The whole substance of life was summed up in those tw

ill in an amaze with the bewilderment of what she had thought. Every long-trained sense in her was horrified at the knowledge of its blasphemy. She tried to believe she had never thought it. To induce that belief

tent with it. Often doubtless the call of life had come to her there beyond the hill; it came with its cry of pain and joy, its voice of sorrow as well as happiness. But now, here

e thought come to her like a light suddenly in dark corners, that she knew it was true. Never now could she cast out its significance from the processes of her mind. In the desperate fear that the very foundations of her religious beliefs were shaken, she might buttress her faith with the determined exclusion of all blasphemy in her thoughts. Never again

ld she know so soon what that change might be? She knew only it was there. She was a different being. Already she felt apart and aloof from her sisters. Even Jane, walking t

ether, these two in silence

icar's bonnet. As if there was the slightest

isters. They had not seen what she had seen. No vision such as hers had been vouchsafed to them. Still they were happy, contented, a

e opened. In the deep consciousness of her heart she felt she was being turned away. How it would difference her life, wh

hrogmorton had been living in Bridnorth, that now she ha

er sharp tongue, had often made them laugh, who, with her shrewd criticisms had often shown them their little weaknesses and the pettiness of their thoughts. In place of her she saw a woman wilted an