Chapter 3

HYDE AND ARENTA

Seldom is Love ushered into any life with any pomp of circumstance or
ceremony; there is no overture to our opera, no prologue to our play,
and the most momentous meetings occur as if by mere accident. A friend
delayed Cornelia a while on the street; and turning, she met Hyde face
to face; a moment more, or less, and the meeting had not been. Ah, but
some Power had set that moment for their meeting, and the delay had been
intended, and the consequences foreseen!

In a dim kind of way Hyde realized this fact as he sat the next day with
an open book before him. He was not reading it; he was thinking of
Cornelia--of her pure, fresh beauty; and of that adorable air of
reserve, which enhanced, even while it veiled her charms. "For her love
I could resign all adventures and prison myself in a law book," he said,
"I could forget all other beauties; in a word, I could marry, and live
in the country. Oh how exquisite she is! I lose my speech when I think
of her!"

Then he closed his book with impatience, and went to Prince's and bought
a little rush basket filled with sweet violets. Into their midst he
slipped his visiting card, and saw the boy on his way with the flowers
to Cornelia ere he was satisfied they would reach her quickly enough.
This finished, he began to consider what he should do with his day.
Study was impossible; and he could think of nothing that was possible.
"It is the most miserable thing," he muttered, "to be in love, unless
you can go to the adored one, every hour, and tell her so,"--then
turning aimlessly into Pearl Street, he saw Cornelia.

She was dressed only in a little morning gown of Indian chintz, but in
such simple toilet had still more distinctively that air of youthful
modesty which he had found so charmingly tantalizing. He hasted to her
side. He blessed his good angel for sending him such an enchanting
surprise. He said the most extravagant things, in the most truthful
manner, as he watched the blushes of pleasure come and go on her lovely
face, and saw by glimpses, under the veiling eyelids, that tender light
that never was on sea or land, but only on a woman's face when her soul
is awakening to Love.

Cornelia was going to the "Universal Store" of Gerardus Duyckinck, and
Hyde begged to go with her. He said he was used to shopping; that he
always went with his mother, and with Lady Christina Griffin, and Mrs.
White, and many others; that he had good taste, and could tell the value
of laces, and knew how to choose a piece of silk, or match the crewels
for her embroidery; and, indeed, pleaded his case so merrily, that there
was no refusing his offer. And how it happened lovers can tell, but