"The sloan in them thickets be a joy," she said, "and if you'll buy the
gin, I'll get the fruit. And I dare say he'll catch me there again come
presently. He's a handsome fellow, whatever else he may be."
So it began that way, and then the majesty of love got hold upon 'em and
enlarged both their minds as it be wont to do. For there's nothing further
from the truth than the saying that love makes a man, or a woman, a fool.
Anyway, Samuel come to tea, and he ate a big one and drank two glasses of
the sloe gin after; and when he went away, he knew he loved Cicely Green
better than anything in the world, and she knew she loved him. But while
the man went home and confessed his secret to his mother, a good bit to
her astonishment, the girl hid her heart from her father and only showed
it in her eyes when she was all alone. The signs amazed her, for she had
never loved before, and when she found as she couldn't trespass for no
more sloes after all, it broke in upon her that she must already be
terrible addicted to Samuel. Because to obey any such order from an
ordinary policeman would have been difficult to her nature.
Of course, Chawner very soon found it out and was a good bit amused and a
thought vexed also, since he counted on a year at least of Cicely's
company, though well knowing such a lovely young woman weren't going to
devote herself to his middle-aged convenience for ever.
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