the winter noon
She _ had _ noticed it , and she had beautifully shown him so ; wearing in its honour the finest shade of studied serenity , a shade almost of gaiety over the workings of time . Everything of course was relative , with the shadow they were living under ; but her condonation of the way in which he now , for confidence , distinguished Aunt Maud had almost the note of cheer . She had so by her own air consecrated the distinction , invidious in respect to herself though it might be ; and nothing , really , more than this demonstration , could have given him had he still wanted it the measure of her superiority . It was doubtless for that matter this superiority alone that on the winter noon gave smooth decision to her step and charming courage to her eyes -- a courage that deepened in them when he had presently got to what he did want . He had delayed after she had joined him not much more than long enough for him to say to her , drawing her hand into his arm and turning off where they had turned of old , that he would n't pretend he had n't lately had moments of not quite believing he should ever again be so happy . She answered , passing over the reasons , whatever they had been , of his doubt , that her own belief was in high happiness for them if they would only have patience ; though nothing at the same time could be dearer than his idea for their walk . It was only make-believe of course , with what had taken place for them , that they could n't meet at home ; she spoke of their opportunities as suffering at no point .