Explore "Rose of the World" by Egerton Castle on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Bethune and Aspasia quickly parted.
Love had come as a messenger of comfort; but to linger under its wings in anything that approached to joy, in that stricken house would have seemed desecration. Bethune, moreover, was glad to be alone. His own trouble was too strong upon him. He felt as if he must have the cold clean air upon his face, gather the winter solitude about the nameless confusion of his thoughts. He wanted to meet himself face to face and have it out with Raymond Bethune; Raymond Bethune, who had gained an unlooked-for love, but had lost -- everything else. He went forth into the orchard -- seeking himself in those barren spaces, that, but a while ago, had seemed to hold the image of his future.