Rollicking robins were whistling joyously in the pines . Jasper Dale 's heart was filled to over-flowing with a realization of all the virgin loveliness around him ; the feeling in his soul had the sacredness of a prayer . At this moment he looked up and saw Alice Reade . She was standing outside the garden fence , in the shadow of a great pine tree , looking not at him , for she was unaware of his presence , but at the virginal bloom of the plum trees in a far corner , with all her delight in it outblossoming freely in her face . For a moment Jasper Dale believed that his dream love had taken visible form before him . She was like -- so like ; not in feature , perhaps , but in grace and colouring -- the grace of a slender , lissome form and the colouring of cloudy hair and wistful , dark gray eyes , and curving red mouth ; and more than all , she was like her in expression -- in the subtle revelation of personality exhaling from her like perfume from a flower . It was as if his own had come to him at last and his whole soul suddenly leaped out to meet and welcome her . Then her eyes fell upon him and the spell was broken . Jasper remained kneeling mutely there , shy man once more , crimson with blushes , a strange , almost pitiful creature in his abject confusion . A little smile flickered about the delicate corners of her mouth , but she turned and walked swiftly away down the lane . Jasper looked after her with a new , painful sense of loss and loveliness . It had been agony to feel her conscious eyes upon him , but he realized now that there had been a strange sweetness in it , too . It was still greater pain to watch her going from him . He thought she must be the new music teacher but he did not even know her name . She had been dressed in blue , too -- a pale , dainty blue ; but that was of course ; he had known she must wear it ; and he was sure her name must be Alice . When , later on , he discovered that it was , he felt no surprise . He carried some mayflowers up to the west gable and put them under the picture . But the charm had gone out of the tribute ; and looking at the picture , he thought how scant was the justice it did her . Her face was so much sweeter , her eyes so much softer , her hair so much more lustrous . The soul of his love had gone from the room and from the picture and from his dreams .
When he tried to think of the XXXXX he loved he saw , not the shadowy spirit occupant of the west gable , but the young girl who had stood under the pine , beautiful with the beauty of moonlight , of starshine on still water , of white , wind-swayed flowers growing in silent , shadowy places .
Alice Dale Jasper Reade colouring heart love mayflowers pines robins