But the tete-a-tete was not disagreeable to either.  Bridget was taken aback, to begin with, by some very liberal proposals of Sarratt’s on the subject of her and Nelly’s joint expenses during his absence.  She was to be Nelly’s guest—­they both wished it—­and he said kindly that he quite understood Nelly’s marriage had made a difference to her, and he hoped she would let them make it up to her, as far and as soon as they could.  Bridget was surprised into amiability,—­and Sarratt found a chance of saying—­

’And you’ll let Nelly talk about the war—­though it does bore you?  She won’t be able to help it—­poor child!’

Bridget supposed that now she too would have to talk about the war.  He needn’t be afraid, she added drily.  She would look after Nelly.  And she looked so masterful and vigorous as she said it, that Sarratt could only believe her.

They shook hands in the road, better friends to all seeming than they had been yet.  And Nelly received George’s account of the conversation with a sigh of relief.

* * * * *

That night the midsummer moon would be at the full, and as the clouds vanished from the sky, and the soft purple night came down, Nelly and Sarratt leaving every piece of luggage behind them, packed, labelled, locked, and piled in the hall, ready for the cart that was to call for it in the early hours—­took their way to the lake and the boathouse.  They had been out at night once before, but this was to be the crowning last thing—­the last joint memory.

It was eleven o’clock before the oars dipped into the water, and as they neared the larger island, the moon, rearing its bright head over the eastern fells, shot a silver pathway through the lake; and on either side of the pathway, the mirrored woods and crags, more dim and ghostly than by day, seemed to lead downward to that very threshold and entrance of the underworld, through which the blinded Theban king vanished from the eyes of men.  Silver-bright the woods and fell-side, on the west; while on the east the woods in shadow, lay sleeping, ‘moon-charmed.’  The air was balmy; and one seemed to hear through it the steady soft beat of the summer life, rising through the leaves and grass and flowers.  Every sound was enchantment—­the drip of water from the oars, the hooting of an owl on the island, even the occasional distant voices, and tapping of horses’ feet on the main road bordering the lake.

Sarratt let the oars drift, and the boat glided, as though of its own will, past the island, and into the shadow beyond it.  Now it was Silver How, and all the Grasmere mountains, that caught the ‘hallowing’ light.