H. B. Marriott Watson

“ The privet hedges rose high, so that he disappeared from my view immediately; but, keeping the central ash in my eye, I ran on. The maze twisted marvellously, ran in astounding little circuits, and dodged hither and thither in an utterly preposterous fashion. I had no judgment by which to go, save my own vague discretion; and though at first I took my resolutions on the run, and with the easy confidence of novelty, soon—finding myself no nearer to the arbour, but somewhat hot and breathless with my speed—I began to choose more leisurely, and with an air of observation. ”

“ By all the love——'
'If you desire,' she broke in suddenly, 'the secret of the maze, on my soul you shall not have it.'
She took me aback with her abrupt resolution, ensuing upon a mood of apparent tenderness. I rose to a fury.
'Then,' said I passionately, 'on my soul I will hack through this accursed privet.'
I drew my sword out of its sheath; and she, her eyes blazing with indignation, put her face to the crevices and fixed me with an imperious look.
'Shame on you! ' she said. 'You would win by fraud and force what you cannot by an industrious intelligence. ”

“ Hope is our portion, my friend, in all desperate emprises.'
'Pish!' said he. 'I've no stomach for this eternal hedge of privet. Give me a plain field, and I see my way. These walls are fit only for your puling citizen.'
'True,' said I. 'They have an air of monotony; but one may suffer much in so amiable a cause. ”