The Reason Why

Chapter 34

Every sort of emotion convulsed the new Lady Tancred's heart, as they

began to get near the park, with the village nestling close to its gates

on the far side. So this was the home of her love and her lord; and they

ought to be holding hands, and approaching it and the thought of their

fond life together there with full hearts,--well, her heart was full

enough, but only of anguish and pain. For Tristram, afraid of the

smallest unbending, maintained a freezing attitude of contemptuous

disdain, which she could not yet pluck up enough courage to break

through to tell him she knew how unjust and unkind she had been.

And presently they came through cheering yokels to the South Lodge, the

furthest away from the village, and so under a triumphant arch of

evergreens, with banners floati