the summer noon
And Dora , hiding her face upon his breast , whispered again , -- `` I was so unhappy an hour ago ! and now , as Sunshine , says , I have come to heaven all at once ! '' Her lover answered by a mute caress ; for there are moments when words are all too weak for speech . And so he only clasped her closer in his arms , and bent his head upon her own ; while all about them the hundred voices of the summer noon whispered benediction on their joy ; the eddying stream paused in its whirl to dimple into laughter at their feet ; the sunlight , broken and flecked by the waving branches , fell in a shifting golden shower upon their heads ; and Nature , the great mother , through her myriad eyes and tongues , blessed the betrothal of her dearest child . `` SURE an ' it 's time they was a-coomin ' , '' said Mrs. Ginniss going out upon the door-stone , and shading her eyes from the level rays of the sunset as she looked steadfastly down the road . `` An ' who 'll they all be , I 'm woondherin ' ? The missus says fove bids was wanted ; an ' faith it 's well she said no more , for sorra a place ` ud there be to stand anudder in .