He was one of those rare souls whose friendship is at once a pleasure and a benediction , showering light from their own crystal clearness into all the dark corners in the souls of others , until , for the time being at least , they reflected his own nobility . But she never thought of love . Like other girls she had her dreams of a possible Prince Charming , young and handsome and debonair . It never occurred to her that he might be found in the shy , dreamy recluse of Golden Milestone . In August came a day of gold and blue . Alice Reade , coming through the trees , with the wind blowing her little dark love-locks tricksily about under her wide blue hat , found a fragrant heap of mignonette under the pine . She lifted it and buried her face in it , drinking in the wholesome , modest perfume . She had hoped Jasper would be in his garden , since she wished to ask him for a book she greatly desired to read . But she saw him sitting on the rustic seat at the further side . His back was towards her , and he was partially screened by a copse of lilacs . Alice , blushing slightly , unlatched the garden gate , and went down the path . She had never been in the garden before , and she found her heart beating in a strange fashion . He did not hear her footsteps , and she was close behind him when she heard his voice , and realized that he was talking to himself , in a low , dreamy tone . As the meaning of his words dawned on her consciousness she started and grew crimson . She could not move or speak ; as one in a dream she stood and listened to the shy man 's reverie , guiltless of any thought of eavesdropping . `` How much I love you , Alice , '' Jasper Dale was saying , unafraid , with no shyness in voice or manner . `` I wonder what you would say if you knew . You would laugh at me -- sweet as you are , you would laugh in mockery . I can never tell you . I can only dream of telling you .
In my XXXXX you are standing here by me , dear .
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