The Opposite House: A Novel — page 277: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

272 Lhe Opposite Flouse. halls desolate, until they slowly crumbled, thorns and thistles grew over them, and the spring be- neath hollowed its bed among them. Fleecy clouds drifted across the sky, and a red- and-white streamer fluttered amid the distant tree- tops. Then the sand on the path creaked,a dry branch in the grass snapped, and Marie, startled, raised her head, then sprang up with a low, exulting cry. He stood before her. A burning blush flamed in her cheeks; her dark lashes drooped in charming embarrassment; then rose, revealing eyes beaming with delight. She advanced to meet him—then paused timidly. Her rosy lips trembled, but found no fitting words. What was she to say ? Traugott stood smiling down at her, raised his arms, and silently extended them. The little bird on the bough caroled a joyous love-song, and Marie rushed into the open arms to nestle on her lover’s breast. “Traugott!” she murmured, with an indescriba- ble blending of love and timidity.—“ Traugott !”’ The sun sparkled on the water; the boughs swayed above their heads; the little songster sud- denly spread its wings and soared upward to the blue sky, announcing to the radiant:universe the new yet ever old story of binding and eternal troth, ComicbdOoks.c©