"And are not you too mateless, Shirley?"
"At heart--no."
"Oh! who nestles there, Shirley?"
But Shirley only laughed gaily at this question, and alertly started up.
"I have dreamed," she said, "a mere day-dream--certainly bright, probably baseless!"
* * * * *
Miss Helstone was by this time free enough from illusions: she took a sufficiently grave view of the future, and fancied she knew pretty well how her own destiny and that of some others were tending. Yet old associations retained their influence over her, and it was these and the power of habit which still frequently drew her of an evening to the field-style and the old thorn overlooking the Hollow.

"And are not you too mateless, Shirley?"
"At heart - no."
"Oh! who nestles there, Shirley?"
But Shirley only laughed gaily at this question, and started up. "I have dreamed a mere day-dream, bright and baseless!"
Miss Helstone was by this time free from illusions: she fancied she knew pretty well where her own destiny and that of some others were leading. Yet she was still frequently drawn of an evening to the field-stile overlooking the Hollow.
